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{{redirect|MMXX|the album|MMXX (album){{!}}MMXX (album)}}{{About year|2020}}{{pp-pc|small=yes}}{{Events by month|2020|prefix=Portal:Current events/}}File:2020 collage per consensus feb5.23.png|Clockwise, from top left: Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 is shot down by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps; Malian Armed Forces overthrow the Government of Mali during the Malian coup d’état; a missile attack causes destruction in Ganja during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War; a man on a burned-out car observes damage from protests following the murder of George Floyd, who was killed by police officer Derek Chauvin; the aftermath of an airstrike on Mekelle during the Tigray War in Ethiopia; destruction in the Port of Beirut, Lebanon, following an accidental explosion of ammonium nitrate that killed 218 people; mourners gather for the funeral of Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani after he was assassinated by a drone strike; a colorized transmission electron micrograph of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that caused the 300x300px|thumb{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}{{Year nav|2020}}{{C21 year in topic}}{{Year in various calendars|year=2020}}{{Year article header|2020}}The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global social and economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, worldwide lockdowns and the largest economic recession since the Great Depression in the 1930s.WEB, IMFBlog, The Great Lockdown: Worst Economic Downturn Since the Great Depression,blogs.imf.org/2020/04/14/the-great-lockdown-worst-economic-downturn-since-the-great-depression/, March 23, 2021, IMF Blog, April 14, 2020, April 14, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200414220210/https://blogs.imf.org/2020/04/14/the-great-lockdown-worst-economic-downturn-since-the-great-depression/, live, Geospatial World also called 2020 “the worst year in terms of climate change” in part due to major climate disasters worldwide, including major bushfires in Australia and the western United States, as well as extreme tropical cyclone activity affecting large parts of North America.WEB, Datta, Anusuya, October 11, 2020, Here’s why 2020 is the worst year so far in terms of Climate Change,www.geospatialworld.net/blogs/heres-why-2020-is-the-worst-year-so-far-in-terms-of-climate-change/, November 14, 2020, Geospatial World, January 16, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210116150506/https://www.geospatialworld.net/blogs/heres-why-2020-is-the-worst-year-so-far-in-terms-of-climate-change/, live, A United Nations progress report published in December 2020 indicated that none of the international Sustainable Development Goals for 2020 were achieved.WEB, 2020 Report: Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals {{!, Knowledge for policy |url=https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/publication/2020-report-progress-towards-sustainable-development-goals_en |access-date=December 7, 2020 |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308072844knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/publication/2020-report-progress-towards-sustainable-development-goals_en |url-status=live }} Time magazine used its sixth ever Red X cover to declare 2020 “the worst year ever”, although the cover article itself did not go as far, instead saying “There have been worse years in U.S. history, and certainly worse years in world history, but most of us alive today have seen nothing like this one.“MAGAZINE, Zacharek, Stephanie, December 5, 2020, 2020 Tested Us Beyond Measure. Where Do We Go From Here?,time.com/5917394/2020-in-review/, August 15, 2021, Time, March 20, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210320062141/https://time.com/5917394/2020-in-review/, live, The Golden Raspberry Awards also awarded the year the Special Governor’s Award for The Worst Calendar Year EVER! at their 41st ceremony.{{horizontal TOC|nonum=yes}}

Events

January

• January 1
  • Croatia begins its term in the presidency of the European Union.BOOK, The EESC’s Activities During the Croatian Presidency: January–July 2020,books.google.com/books?id=QMXPzQEACAAJ, 2019, EESC, 978-92-830-4581-6,
  • Flash floods struck Jakarta, Indonesia, killing 66 people in a worst flooding in over a decade.NEWS, 66 people now killed by flooding in Jakarta, and more rain appears to be on the way, January 6, 2020, CNN.com,edition.cnn.com/2020/01/06/asia/jakarta-floods-intl-hnk/index.html, January 6, 2020, June 12, 2023,web.archive.org/web/20230612232957/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/06/asia/jakarta-floods-intl-hnk/index.html, live,
• January 2 – The Royal Australian Air Force and Navy are deployed to New South Wales and Victoria to assist mass evacuation efforts amidst the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season.NEWS, Military moves in to help mass evacuation from Australian bushfires, CBC News,www.cbc.ca/news/world/australia-wildfires-jan1-1.5412274, November 15, 2020, December 23, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201223165119/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/australia-wildfires-jan1-1.5412274, live, NEWS, Marnie, O’Neill, Half a billion animals perish in bushfires,www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/half-a-billion-animals-perish-in-bushfires/news-story/b316adb4f3af7b1c8464cf186ab9f52c, January 3, 2020, News.com.au, January 1, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200103031916/https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/half-a-billion-animals-perish-in-bushfires/news-story/b316adb4f3af7b1c8464cf186ab9f52c, January 3, 2020, live,
• January 3 – A United States drone strike at Baghdad International Airport kills ten people, including the intended target, Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, and Iraqi paramilitary leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.NEWS,www.newsweek.com/iraq-militia-official-killed-us-iran-tensions-1480181, Iraq Militia Officials, Iran’s QUDS Force Head Killed in U.S. Drone Strike, O’Connor, Tom, Laporta, James, January 2, 2020, Newsweek, January 2, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200103030530/https://www.newsweek.com/iraq-militia-official-killed-us-iran-tensions-1480181, January 3, 2020, live,
• January 5
  • Second Libyan Civil War: President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan announces the deployment of Turkish troops to Libya on behalf of the United Nations-backed Government of National Accord.NEWS,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/05/turkish-troops-deploy-to-libya-to-prop-up-embattled-government, Turkish troops deploy to Libya to prop up embattled government, January 5, 2020, The Guardian, January 6, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200106000833/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/05/turkish-troops-deploy-to-libya-to-prop-up-embattled-government, January 6, 2020, live,
  • 2019–20 Croatian presidential election: The second round of voting is held and Zoran Milanović of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia defeats incumbent president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović.NEWS, January 6, 2020, Croatia elects centre-left challenger Zoran Milanovic as president, en-GB, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51006754, March 3, 2022, April 8, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220408145737/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51006754, live,
• January 8
  • Iran launches ballistic missiles at two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. soldiers, injuring over 100 personnel.NEWS,news.trust.org/item/20200117170342-xr08c, Pentagon denies trying to underplay injuries from Iran attack, Reuters, January 17, 2020, January 18, 2020,news.trust.org/item/20200117170342-xr08c," title="web.archive.org/web/20200118042701news.trust.org/item/20200117170342-xr08c,">web.archive.org/web/20200118042701news.trust.org/item/20200117170342-xr08c, January 18, 2020, live,
  • Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 is shot down by Iranian forces shortly after takeoff from Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport, killing all 176 people on board.NEWS, January 8, 2020, Boeing 737 plane crashes in Iran,edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/iran-plane-crash-live-intl-hnk/index.html, CNN, January 8, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200108104442/https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/iran-plane-crash-live-intl-hnk/index.html, January 8, 2020, live,
• January 9
  • A rare, circumbinary planet called TOI 1338-b is discovered.WEB,abcnews.go.com/US/york-teen-discovers-planet-interning-nasa/story?id=68169897, New York teen discovers new planet while interning with NASA, Ivan, Pereira,web.archive.org/web/20200110164740/https://abcnews.go.com/US/york-teen-discovers-planet-interning-nasa/story?id=68169897, January 10, 2020, ABC News, January 9, 2020, live,
  • Islamic State in the Greater Sahara militants assault a Nigerien military base in Chinagodrar, killing at least 89 Nigerien soldiers.NEWS,www.reuters.com/article/us-niger-security/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-niger-army-base-attack-idUSKBN1ZD1ZZ, Reuters, Islamic State claims responsibility for Niger army base attack, January 14, 2020, January 14, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200115034731/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-niger-security/islamic-state-claims-responsibility-for-niger-army-base-attack-idUSKBN1ZD1ZZ, January 15, 2020, live,
• January 10 – Haitham bin Tariq succeeds Qaboos bin Said as the Sultan of Oman.NEWS,www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50902476, Sultan Qaboos of Oman dies aged 79, January 11, 2020, January 11, 2020, BBC News,web.archive.org/web/20200115183138/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50902476, January 15, 2020, live, NEWS, Oman’s new ruler Haitham bin Tariq takes oath: newspapers,www.reuters.com/article/us-oman-sultan-successor-media/omans-new-ruler-haitham-bin-tariq-takes-oath-newspapers-idUSKCN1ZA078, January 11, 2020, Reuters, January 11, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200111063255/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oman-sultan-successor-media/omans-new-ruler-haitham-bin-tariq-takes-oath-newspapers-idUSKCN1ZA078, January 11, 2020, live,
• January 11 – Presidential and legislative elections are held in Taiwan. Incumbent president Tsai Ing-wen is reelected and the Democratic Progressive Party wins a majority of 67 out of 113 seats in the Legislative Yuan.WEB, January 11, 2020, Taiwan election: Tsai Ing-Wen wins landslide in rebuke to China,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/11/taiwan-re-elects-tsai-ing-wen-as-president-in-clear-message-to-china, February 28, 2022, The Guardian, en, February 3, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220203042957/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/11/taiwan-re-elects-tsai-ing-wen-as-president-in-clear-message-to-china, live, NEWS, January 11, 2020, Taiwan opposition candidate admits defeat in presidential election, en, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-election-opposition-idUSKBN1ZA0HJ, February 28, 2022, January 22, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200122200159/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-election-opposition-idUSKBN1ZA0HJ, live, WEB,vote.nccu.edu.tw/engcec/B202000E.PDF, Election Result By Parties Votes For The 10th Regional Legislators Elections (National Level Public Officials Election-Taiwan, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20221128114956/https://vote.nccu.edu.tw/engcec/B202000E.PDF, November 28, 2022, January 6, 2023,
• January 12 – The Taal Volcano in the Philippines has its first major eruption since 1977.WEB, January 12, 2020, PHIVOLCS warns of ‘hazardous explosive eruption’ of Taal Volcano soon,cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/1/12/PHIVOLCS-Taal-Volcano-explosion.html, March 26, 2021, CNN Philippines, January 18, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220118182537/https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/1/12/PHIVOLCS-Taal-Volcano-explosion.html, dead,
• January 16 – The first impeachment trial of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, begins in the U.S. Senate. He is acquitted on February 5.WEB,www.npr.org/2020/02/05/801429948/not-guilty-trump-acquitted-on-2-articles-of-impeachment-as-historic-trial-closes, ‘Not Guilty’: Trump Acquitted On 2 Articles Of Impeachment As Historic Trial Closes,web.archive.org/web/20200206152432/https://www.npr.org/2020/02/05/801429948/not-guilty-trump-acquitted-on-2-articles-of-impeachment-as-historic-trial-closes, February 6, 2020, Philip, Ewing, NPR, February 5, 2020, live,
• January 18 – Yemeni Civil War: 111 Yemeni soldiers and 5 civilians are killed in a drone and missile attack on a military camp near Maʼrib.NEWS,www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51166943, Yemen war: Death toll in attack on military base rises to 111, January 20, 2020, January 20, 2020, BBC News,web.archive.org/web/20200121084708/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-51166943, January 21, 2020, live,
• January 20 – COVID-19 pandemic: Chinese authorities publicly confirm human-to-human transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.WEB, Covid-19: Five days that shaped the outbreak, Jane, McMullen, BBC News, BBC,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-55756452, January 25, 2021, January 25, 2021, January 26, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210126021655/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-55756452, live,
• January 22 – The Hellenic Parliament elects Katerina Sakellaropoulou as president of Greece.WEB, January 16, 2020, Progressive judge to become Greece’s first female president,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/16/greece-first-female-president-katerina-sakellaropoulou-kyriakos-mitsotakis, March 22, 2022, The Guardian, en, January 16, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200116185424/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/16/greece-first-female-president-katerina-sakellaropoulou-kyriakos-mitsotakis, live, NEWS, Greece elects its first female president,www.nbcnews.com/news/world/greece-elects-katerina-sakellaropoulou-first-female-president-n1120421, March 22, 2022, NBC News, en, March 22, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220322140552/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/greece-elects-katerina-sakellaropoulou-first-female-president-n1120421, live,
• January 23 – COVID-19 pandemic: The Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the initial COVID-19 outbreak, is quarantined with all scheduled public transport services and intercity flights halted.WEB,view.inews.qq.com/w/WXN2020012301001306?uid=&devid=A55D8C74-EEF2-420C-8182-21F1D43348CF&qimei=34ae00a5-9e85-4f82-9afa-3c7ccb6d36d5, 直击武汉天河机场：“封城“前有96架航班飞往全国, January 23, 2020, March 4, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200304160631/https://view.inews.qq.com/w/WXN2020012301001306?uid=&devid=A55D8C74-EEF2-420C-8182-21F1D43348CF&qimei=34ae00a5-9e85-4f82-9afa-3c7ccb6d36d5, live, JOURNAL, Chinazzi, Matteo, Davis, Jessica T., Ajelli, Marco, Gioannini, Corrado, Litvinova, Maria, Merler, Stefano, Piontti, Ana Pastore y, Mu, Kunpeng, Rossi, Luca, Sun, Kaiyuan, Viboud, Cécile, 6 March 2020, The effect of travel restrictions on the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Science, 368, 6489, 395–400, 10.1126/science.aba9757, 0036-8075, 32144116, 7164386, 2020Sci...368..395C, free,
• January 26
  • The 2020 Peruvian parliamentary election is held to elect all 130 members of the Congress of the Republic of Peru.NEWS, Peru election: Crushing blow for president’s opponents Popular Force, en-GB, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-51208274, March 3, 2022, March 3, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220303115319/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-51208274, live,
  • Kobe Bryant dies in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.WEB, Harvey, Austin, 2023-09-23, Inside The Sudden Death Of Kobe Bryant — And The Helicopter Crash That Caused It,allthatsinteresting.com/kobe-bryant-death, 2023-10-24, All That’s Interesting, en-US, November 5, 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231105015548/https://allthatsinteresting.com/kobe-bryant-death, live,
• January 29 – U.S. president Donald Trump signs the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement, a North American trade agreement set to replace NAFTA.WEB, BBC News, Trump signs US Mexico Canada Agreement,www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51300625, Jan 29, 2020, January 31, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200130151434/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51300625, January 30, 2020, live,
• January 30 – COVID-19 pandemic: The World Health Organization (WHO) declares the outbreak of the disease as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the sixth time that this measure has been invoked since 2009.WEB,www.bbc.com/news/world-51318246, Coronavirus declared global health emergency, January 30, 2020, BBC, January 30, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200130201004/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-51318246, January 30, 2020, live,
• January 31 – The United Kingdom and Gibraltar formally withdraw from the European Union, beginning an 11-month transition period.NEWS,www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-51287430, European Parliament approves Brexit agreement, BBC News, January 29, 2020, January 29, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200129175943/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-51287430, January 29, 2020, live,

February

• February 6 – Livraga derailment: A Frecciarossa high speed train travelling from Milan to Salerno derailed in Livraga, Lombardy, Italy. 2 people were killed and 31 people were injured.WEB, Off to the Side: The 2020 Livraga (Italy) Train Derailment, June 4, 2023,mx-schroeder.medium.com/off-to-the-side-the-2020-livraga-italy-train-derailment-dbb42e186ec8, September 12, 2023, November 5, 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231105015548/https://mx-schroeder.medium.com/off-to-the-side-the-2020-livraga-italy-train-derailment-dbb42e186ec8, live,
• February 8 – The 2020 Irish general election is held to elect 160 members of the 33rd Dáil, the lower house of the Oireachtas.WEB, April 20, 2021, Irish election produces an earthquake as Sinn Fein tops poll,apnews.com/article/europe-ireland-ap-top-news-elections-earthquakes-f7c0de1379e3c2ca7143e0a2414c1f66, March 21, 2022, AP NEWS, en, March 21, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220321141705/https://apnews.com/article/europe-ireland-ap-top-news-elections-earthquakes-f7c0de1379e3c2ca7143e0a2414c1f66, live, NEWS, February 11, 2020, Irish general election: Sinn Féin celebrate historic result, en-GB, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51441410, March 21, 2022, February 14, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200214200429/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51441410, live,
• February 11 – COVID-19 pandemic: The World Health Organization (WHO) names the disease COVID-19.WEB,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-51466362, Coronavirus disease named Covid-19, BBC, February 11, 2020, February 11, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200211155539/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-51466362, February 11, 2020, live,
• February 13 – NASA publishes a detailed study of Arrokoth, the most distant body ever explored by a spacecraft.WEB, ‘Not just a space potato’: Nasa unveils ‘astonishing’ details of most distant object ever visited,www.theguardian.com/science/2020/feb/13/not-just-a-space-potato-nasa-unveils-astonishing-details-of-most-distant-object-ever-visited-arrokoth, February 13, 2020, The Guardian, February 13, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200213192141/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/feb/13/not-just-a-space-potato-nasa-unveils-astonishing-details-of-most-distant-object-ever-visited-arrokoth, February 13, 2020, live,
• February 19 – Hanau shootings: Eleven people are killed and five injured in a terrorist shooting spree by a far-right extremist targeting shisha bars in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Germany.WEB,apnews.com/article/shootings-turkey-germany-international-news-cultures-b5736c3dba1d677e89ef947bcf5ab213, German gunman calling for genocide kills 9 people, David McHugh, David Rising, Frank Jordans, February 20, 2020, AP, March 16, 2022, March 16, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220316202701/https://apnews.com/article/shootings-turkey-germany-international-news-cultures-b5736c3dba1d677e89ef947bcf5ab213, live,
• February 24 – The Pakatan Harapan coalition government of Malaysia collapses and is replaced by the Perikatan Nasional coalition. Muhyiddin Yassin becomes the eighth Prime Minister of Malaysia on 1 March.WEB, Pakatan Harapan govt collapses,www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/02/24/pakatan-harapan-govt-collapses, October 16, 2020, The Star, October 20, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201020001902/https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/02/24/pakatan-harapan-govt-collapses, live,
• February 27 – 2020 stock market crash: Triggered by fears of the spreading of COVID-19, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) plunges by 1,190.95 points, or 4.4%, to close at 25,766.64, its largest one-day point decline at the time. This follows several days of large falls, marking the worst week for the index since 2008.WEB, Dow plunges 1,100 points as the coronavirus sends the market tumbling into correction territory,www.cnbc.com/2020/02/26/dow-futures-fall-after-microsoft-issues-coronavirus-warning.html, CNBC, February 27, 2020, February 27, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200226233042/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/26/dow-futures-fall-after-microsoft-issues-coronavirus-warning.html, February 26, 2020, live,
• February 28 – Syrian Civil War: NATO expresses solidarity with Turkey after 34 Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike by pro-Syrian government forces.WEB,www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_173927.htm, NATO expresses strong solidarity with Turkey at special meeting of the North Atlantic Council, February 28, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200228220106/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_173927.htm, February 28, 2020, live,
• February 29
  • A conditional peace agreement is signed between the United States and the Taliban. The U.S. begins gradually withdrawing combat troops from Afghanistan on March 10.WEB, February 21, 2020, US, Taliban truce takes effect, setting stage for peace deal,www.thedenverchannel.com/news/national-politics/us-taliban-truce-takes-effect-setting-stage-for-peace-deal, live,web.archive.org/web/20200222004514/https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/national-politics/us-taliban-truce-takes-effect-setting-stage-for-peace-deal, February 22, 2020, February 22, 2020, The Denver Channel, NEWS,www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51810498, BBC, Afghanistan conflict: US begins withdrawing troops, March 9, 2020, March 10, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200310030404/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51810498, March 10, 2020, live,
  • Barquisimeto shooting: During a demonstration, pro-government colectivos shoot at disputed President and Speaker of the National Assembly Juan Guaidó and his supporters in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, leaving five injured.NEWS, Singer, Florantonia, March 1, 2020, El ataque a una concentración de Juan Guaidó deja al menos cinco heridos, es, El País,elpais.com/internacional/2020/03/01/america/1583026220_615376.html, May 19, 2021, 1134-6582, April 25, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220425232736/https://elpais.com/internacional/2020/03/01/america/1583026220_615376.html, live, WEB, February 29, 2020, Colectivos chavistas atacaron una concentración convocada por Juan Guaidó en Barquisimeto,www.infobae.com/america/venezuela/2020/02/29/colectivos-chavistas-atacaron-una-concentracion-convocada-por-juan-guaido-en-barquisimeto/, May 19, 2021, infobae, es, April 3, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220403122229/https://www.infobae.com/america/venezuela/2020/02/29/colectivos-chavistas-atacaron-una-concentracion-convocada-por-juan-guaido-en-barquisimeto/, live,

March

• March 2 – The Yahoo! Time Capsule, dating from 2006, is opened.WEB, 2020-02-02, Next month Yahoo!’s time capsule will reveal the distant past… of 2006,www.avclub.com/next-month-yahoo-s-time-capsule-will-reveal-the-distan-1841318274, 2023-12-03, The A.V. Club, en, December 3, 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231203191043/https://www.avclub.com/next-month-yahoo-s-time-capsule-will-reveal-the-distan-1841318274, live, WEB, 2020-03-03, Time to party!,www.verizon.com/about/news/speed-march-3-2020, 2023-12-03, Verizon, en, March 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200303173636/https://www.verizon.com/about/news/speed-march-3-2020, live,
• March 5 – The International Criminal Court authorizes the Afghanistan War Crimes inquiry to proceed, reportedly allowing for the first time for U.S. citizens to be investigated.NEWS, Peltier, Elian,www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/world/europe/afghanistan-war-crimes-icc.html, I.C.C. Allows Afghanistan War Crimes Inquiry to Proceed, Angering U.S., March 5, 2020, The New York Times, March 6, 2020, Faizi, Fatima, 0362-4331,web.archive.org/web/20200306033317/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/world/europe/afghanistan-war-crimes-icc.html, March 6, 2020, live,
• March 9
  • COVID-19 pandemic: Italy becomes the first country to implement a nationwide quarantine in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.WEB,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/08/coronavirus-italy-quarantine-virus-reaches-washington-dc, Coronavirus: quarter of Italy’s population put in quarantine as virus reaches Washington DC, The Guardian, March 8, 2020, March 8, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200308060523/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/08/coronavirus-italy-quarantine-virus-reaches-washington-dc, March 8, 2020, live, NEWS,www.wsj.com/articles/italy-bolsters-quarantine-checks-after-initial-lockdown-confusion-11583756737, The Wall Street Journal, March 10, 2020, March 9, 2020, As Virus Spreads, Italy Locks Down Country, Italy is the world’s first country to place its entire territory under quarantine, Eric Sylvers, Giovanni Legorano, March 18, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200318161722/https://www.wsj.com/articles/italy-bolsters-quarantine-checks-after-initial-lockdown-confusion-11583756737, live,
  • International share prices fall sharply in response to a Russo-Saudi oil price war and the impact of COVID-19. The DJIA plunges more than 2,000 points, the largest fall in its history up to that point.WEB,www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51796806, Black Monday: Shares face biggest fall since financial crisis, BBC News, March 9, 2020, March 9, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200309034201/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-51796806, March 9, 2020, live, Oil prices also plunge by as much as 30% in early trading, the biggest fall since 1991.NEWS, Oil prices plunge as much as 30% after OPEC deal failure sparks price war,www.cnbc.com/2020/03/08/oil-plummets-30percent-as-opec-deal-failure-sparks-price-war-fears.html, March 9, 2020, CNBC,web.archive.org/web/20200309000012/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/08/oil-plummets-30percent-as-opec-deal-failure-sparks-price-war-fears.html, March 9, 2020, live, WEB,www.cnbc.com/2020/03/30/oil-falls-amid-saudi-arabia-russia-price-war-coronavirus-hits-demand.html, Oil prices fall to 17-year low as Saudi Arabia-Russia standoff continues, coronavirus hits demand, Weizhen, Tan, CNBC, March 30, 2020, December 31, 2022, December 31, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20221231095014/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/30/oil-falls-amid-saudi-arabia-russia-price-war-coronavirus-hits-demand.html, live,
• March 11 – COVID-19 pandemic: The World Health Organization declares the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.WEB,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-51839944, Coronavirus confirmed as pandemic by World Health Organization, BBC News, March 11, 2020, March 11, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200311174102/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-51839944, March 11, 2020, live,
• March 12 – Global stock markets crash due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the United States travel ban on the Schengen Area. The DJIA goes into free fall, closing at over −2,300 points, the worst losses for the index since 1987.NEWS, Wearden (earlier), Graeme,www.theguardian.com/business/live/2020/mar/12/stock-markets-tumble-trump-europe-travel-ban-ecb-christine-lagarde-business-live, Wall Street and FTSE 100 plunge on worst day since 1987 – as it happened, March 12, 2020, The Guardian, March 13, 2020, Jolly (now), Jasper, 0261-3077,web.archive.org/web/20200312093531/https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2020/mar/12/stock-markets-tumble-trump-europe-travel-ban-ecb-christine-lagarde-business-live, March 12, 2020, live,
• March 13 – COVID-19 pandemic: The government of Nepal announces that Mount Everest will be closed to climbers and the public for the rest of the season due to concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia.NEWS,www.cnn.com/travel/article/mount-everest-coronavirus-closed-scli-intl/index.html, Mount Everest closed over coronavirus fears, CNN, March 13, 2020, March 20, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200313194603/https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/mount-everest-coronavirus-closed-scli-intl/index.html, March 13, 2020, live,
• March 16 – The DJIA falls by 2,997.10, the single largest point drop in history and the second-largest percentage drop ever at 12.93%, an even greater crash than Black Monday (1929). This follows the U.S. Federal Reserve announcing that it will cut its target interest rate to 0–0.25%.WEB,www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20200315a.htm, Federal Reserve issues FOMC statement, Federal Reserve, March 15, 2020, March 17, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200317021707/https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/monetary20200315a.htm, March 17, 2020, live,
• March 17
  • COVID-19 pandemic:
    • The European Union’s external and Schengen borders are closed for at least 30 days in an effort to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.WEB,www.euractiv.com/section/coronavirus/linksdossier/coronavirus-whats-happening-in-europe/, Coronavirus: What’s happening in Europe, Euractiv, March 17, 2020, March 18, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200318011326/https://www.euractiv.com/section/coronavirus/linksdossier/coronavirus-whats-happening-in-europe/, March 18, 2020, live,
    • The Euro 2020 and 2020 Copa América association football tournaments are postponed until the summer of 2021 by UEFA and CONMEBOL respectively.NEWS,www.skysports.com/football/news/19692/11958779/euro-2020-postponed-until-summer-of-2021-following-coronavirus-pandemic, Euro 2020 postponed until summer 2021; domestic leagues, UEFA competitions to be completed by June 30, Sky Sports, March 17, 2020, March 26, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200321001622/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/19692/11958779/euro-2020-postponed-until-summer-of-2021-following-coronavirus-pandemic, March 21, 2020, live, WEB,www.espn.com/soccer/copa-america/story/4075579/coronavirus-copa-america-postponed-until-2021-due-to-outbreak, Coronavirus: Copa America postponed until 2021 due to outbreak, June 6, 2020, March 17, 2020, ESPN, May 31, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200531185114/https://www.espn.com/soccer/copa-america/story/4075579/coronavirus-copa-america-postponed-until-2021-due-to-outbreak, live,
• March 18
  • COVID-19 pandemic:
    • The Eurovision Song Contest 2020 is cancelled due to the spread of COVID-19 in Europe, the first cancellation in the contest’s 64-year history.WEB, March 18, 2020, Official EBU statement & FAQ on Eurovision 2020 cancellation,eurovision.tv/official-ebu-statement-and-faq-eurovision-song-contest-2020-cancellation, live,web.archive.org/web/20200318142008/https://eurovision.tv/official-ebu-statement-and-faq-eurovision-song-contest-2020-cancellation, March 18, 2020, March 18, 2020, European Broadcasting Union (EBU),
    • Solidarity trial, a WHO-sponsored clinical trial dedicated to finding a cure against COVID-19, is announced.WEB, March 18, 2020, UN health chief announces global ‘solidarity trial’ to jumpstart search for COVID-19 treatment,news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1059722, July 25, 2020, UN News, March 23, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200323101633/https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/03/1059722, live,
• March 20
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The worldwide death toll from COVID-19 surpasses 10,000 as the total number of cases reaches a quarter of a million.WEB,www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-51969508, Global coronavirus deaths pass 10,000, BBC News, March 20, 2020, October 10, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200320044353/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-51969508, March 20, 2020, live,
  • The Bhadla Solar Park is commissioned and becomes the world’s largest solar park.WEB,mercomindia.com/world-largest-solar-park-bhadla/, With 2,245 MW of Commissioned Solar Projects, World’s Largest Solar Park is Now at Bhadl, March 19, 2020, March 20, 2020, March 20, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200320170906/https://mercomindia.com/world-largest-solar-park-bhadla/, live,
• March 24
  • COVID-19 pandemic:
    • India and the United Kingdom go into lockdown to contain COVID-19. The total number of people in the world facing some form of pandemic-related movement restriction now exceeds 2.6 billion, a third of the global population.NEWS,news.yahoo.com/britain-lockdown-warns-pandemic-accelerating-051357601.html, Yahoo! News, A third of the world under virus lockdown, as Olympics delayed, March 24, 2020, March 26, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200325030625/https://news.yahoo.com/britain-lockdown-warns-pandemic-accelerating-051357601.html, March 25, 2020, live,
    • Chinese Premier Li Keqiang reports that the domestically transmitted epidemic is now under control.NEWS, China deploys measures to curb imported COVID-19 cases, rebound in indigenous cases,english.scio.gov.cn/m/topnews/2020-03/24/content_75852078.htm, State Council Information Office of China, March 24, 2020, March 24, 2020,english.scio.gov.cn/m/topnews/2020-03/24/content_75852078.htm," title="web.archive.org/web/20200324060057english.scio.gov.cn/m/topnews/2020-03/24/content_75852078.htm,">web.archive.org/web/20200324060057english.scio.gov.cn/m/topnews/2020-03/24/content_75852078.htm, March 24, 2020, live, Two days later, China temporarily suspends entry for foreign nationals with visas or residence permits, effective midnight March 28.NEWS,www.axios.com/china-foreigners-visas-coronavirus-6e87eea9-73f3-4342-aee2-a171ca742ea5.html, Axios, March 26, 2020, China to temporarily bar entry of foreigners to stop spread of coronavirus, March 27, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200327035333/https://www.axios.com/china-foreigners-visas-coronavirus-6e87eea9-73f3-4342-aee2-a171ca742ea5.html, March 27, 2020, live,
    • The International Olympic Committee and Japan postpone the 2020 Summer Olympics to 2021. On March 30, the Summer Olympics are rescheduled from July 23 to August 8, 2021.WEB, March 24, 2020, Tokyo Olympics postponed to 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic,www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/24/tokyo-olympics-to-be-postponed-to-2021-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic, live,web.archive.org/web/20200324123239/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/mar/24/tokyo-olympics-to-be-postponed-to-2021-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic, March 24, 2020, March 24, 2020, The Guardian, WEB,www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1092594/postponed-tokyo-olympics-july-23-opening, Rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympics to open on July 23 in 2021, Michael, Pavitt, March 20, 2020, insidethegames.biz, March 20, 2020, February 18, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210218085845/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1092594/postponed-tokyo-olympics-july-23-opening, live,
• March 26
  • COVID-19 pandemic:
    • Global COVID-19 cases reach 500,000, with nearly 23,000 deaths confirmed.NEWS,www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2020/03/26/500000-coronavirus-cases-reported-worldwide/63ddd34c59b8, 500,000 Coronavirus Cases Reported Worldwide, Forbes, March 26, 2020, March 27, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200326222748/https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2020/03/26/500000-coronavirus-cases-reported-worldwide/63ddd34c59b8, March 26, 2020, live, The U.S. surpasses China and Italy in total number of known COVID-19 cases, with at least 81,321 cases and more than 1,000 deaths.NEWS,www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-us-now-leads-the-world-in-confirmed-coronavirus-cases/ar-BB11LlDh, The U.S. Now Leads the World in Confirmed Coronavirus Cases, The New York Times, March 26, 2020, March 27, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200326230342/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-us-now-leads-the-world-in-confirmed-coronavirus-cases/ar-BB11LlDh, March 26, 2020, live,
    • Militants in the Philippines, Syria, Yemen, and Libya agree to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres’ call for a ceasefire; some accept medical aid for themselves and civilians in their communities. Colombia and Venezuela discuss a common response to the global pandemic, and the UAE airlifts aid to Iran.WEB,www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2020/0326/Trading-handguns-for-handwipes, Trading handguns for handwipes,web.archive.org/web/20200327035244/https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/the-monitors-view/2020/0326/Trading-handguns-for-handwipes, March 27, 2020, The Christian Science Monitor, March 26, 2020, live,
• March 27 – North Macedonia becomes the 30th country to join NATO.WEB,www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/03/24/north-macedonia-expected-to-join-nato-within-days/, North Macedonia to officially join NATO on Friday, Aaron, Mehta, March 24, 2020, Defense News, March 27, 2020,archive.today/20200324221721/https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/03/24/north-macedonia-expected-to-join-nato-within-days/, March 24, 2020, live,
• March 30 – 2020 Russia–Saudi Arabia oil price war: The price of Brent Crude falls 9% to $23 per barrel, the lowest level since November 2002.WEB,news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-oil-costs-hit-2002-low-as-markets-digest-surge-in-infections-11965511, Coronavirus: Oil costs hit 2002 low as markets digest surge in infections,web.archive.org/web/20200330204100/https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-oil-costs-hit-2002-low-as-markets-digest-surge-in-infections-11965511, March 30, 2020, James, Sillars, Sky News, March 30, 2020, live,

April

• April 1
  • COVID-19 pandemic:
    • China reports 130 asymptomatic cases of COVID-19, its first reported asymptomatic cases.WEB, April 1, 2020, China Reports 130 Asymptomatic Cases of Coronavirus in One Day,www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-04-01/china-reports-130-asymptomatic-cases-of-coronavirus-in-one-day, June 3, 2020, Bloomberg.com, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603200023/https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2020-04-01/china-reports-130-asymptomatic-cases-of-coronavirus-in-one-day, live,
    • Yemen’s internationally recognised government releases more than 470 of its prisoners amid concerns of the spread of the virus in Yemen’s overcrowded jails. The United Nations Human Rights Council has called for the release of all political prisoners.WEB, Hundreds of prisoners in Yemen freed amid coronavirus pandemic,www.thenational.ae/world/mena/hundreds-of-prisoners-in-yemen-freed-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-1.1000483, June 3, 2020, The National, April 2020, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603180405/https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/hundreds-of-prisoners-in-yemen-freed-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-1.1000483, live,
• April 2 – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 1 million worldwide.NEWS,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-52144390, Coronavirus: Confirmed global cases pass one million, BBC News, April 3, 2010, April 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200403082750/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-52144390, April 3, 2020, live,
• April 5
  • COVID-19 pandemic:
    • The first case of COVID-19 in a zoo animal is reported: a four-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo in New York City.WEB,www.livescience.com/amp/tiger-bronx-zoo-has-covid-19.html, Bronx Zoo tiger infected with COVID-19, Jeanna, Bryner, Live Science, April 5, 2020, April 6, 2020, April 6, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200406173328/https://www.livescience.com/amp/tiger-bronx-zoo-has-covid-19.html, live,
• April 6 – The United States designates the Russian Imperial Movement as a terrorist organization and imposes sanctions on its leaders; it is the first white supremacist group the U.S. has designated as a terrorist organization.WEB, April 6, 2020, In a first, US slaps sanctions on Russian white supremacists,apnews.com/4f5dfda48d9f13876af828757c85d852, June 3, 2020, AP NEWS, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603224713/https://apnews.com/4f5dfda48d9f13876af828757c85d852, live,
• April 7 – COVID-19 pandemic: Japan declares a state of emergency in response to COVID-19 and finalises a stimulus package worth 108 trillion yen (US$990 billion), equal to 20% of the country’s GDP.NEWS,www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/apr/07/coronavirus-live-news-boris-johnson-intensive-care-uk-donald-trump-america-us-praying-recovery-latest-updates?page=with:block-5e8c3e758f08c9eaf0daff34block-5e8c3e758f08c9eaf0daff34, Japan declares a state of emergency after rise in cases in Tokyo, The Guardian, April 7, 2010, April 7, 2020, April 8, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200408114933/https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/apr/07/coronavirus-live-news-boris-johnson-intensive-care-uk-donald-trump-america-us-praying-recovery-latest-updates?page=with%3Ablock-5e8c3e758f08c9eaf0daff34block-5e8c3e758f08c9eaf0daff34, live,
• April 8 – COVID-19 pandemic: The Saudi–led coalition declares a unilateral ceasefire in its operations against Houthi forces in Yemen in accordance with United Nations-led efforts.NEWS, April 9, 2020, Ceasefire begins in Yemen to help combat virus, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-52224358, June 3, 2020, April 11, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200411163257/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-52224358, live,
• April 10
  • Kivu Ebola epidemic: The Democratic Republic of the Congo reports the first case of Ebola since February 2020. The outbreak has killed more than 2,200 people since August 2018.NEWS, April 10, 2020, Ebola patient dies in Congo, first case in 50 days, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-health-ebola-congo-idUSKCN21S1P5, June 3, 2020, June 7, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200607052137/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-ebola-congo-idUSKCN21S1P5, live,
  • The ESA/JAXA space probe BepiColombo makes its final gravity assist around Earth and begins to depart for Venus, where it will make several gravity assist maneuvers before finally arriving at Mercury in 2025.NEWS, Amos, Jonathan, April 10, 2020, BepiColombo Mercury mission bids farewell to Earth, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-52229667, June 3, 2020, May 26, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200526082107/https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-52229667, live,
  • COVID-19 pandemic:
    • The death toll from COVID-19 exceeds 100,000 globally, a ten-fold increase from March 20.NEWS,www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-52239925, Global toll tops 100,000 as Trump holds briefing, BBC News, April 10, 2010, April 10, 2020, April 10, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200410051302/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-52239925, live,
    • EU finance ministers agree on a €540 billion loan package to alleviate the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.NEWS, April 9, 2020, E.U. Officials Agree to Deal to Soften Coronavirus’s Economic Blow, The New York Times,www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/world/coronavirus-news-international.html, June 3, 2020, 0362-4331, May 24, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200524124654/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/world/coronavirus-news-international.html, live,
• April 12
  • COVID-19 pandemic: Pope Francis livestreams the Urbi et Orbi blessing for Easter; it is the second blessing in a month, with the first taking place on March 27 during a special prayer service for the end of the pandemic.WEB,cruxnow.com/vatican/2020/04/on-an-easter-under-quarantine-pope-calls-resurrection-a-contagion-of-hope/, On an Easter under quarantine, Pope calls resurrection a ‘contagion of hope’, June 3, 2020, cruxnow.com, April 12, 2020, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603180115/https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2020/04/on-an-easter-under-quarantine-pope-calls-resurrection-a-contagion-of-hope/, live,
  • OPEC and allies strike a deal to cut oil production by 9.7 million barrels per day, the largest such cut agreed upon, starting May 1.NEWS, April 12, 2020, Record deal to cut oil output ends price war, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/business-52264546, June 3, 2020, May 20, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200520215340/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52264546, live,

{{redirect|April 14th 2020|the Fred Again song|Actual Life (April 14 – December 17, 2020)}}

• {{Anchor|April 14}} April 14
  • COVID-19 pandemic
    • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it expects the world economy to shrink 3%, the worst contraction since the Great Depression of the 1930s.WEB, IMF: Global economy will suffer worst year since Depression,apnews.com/8f170d4aae2073c692d0fa40da6abcf4, AP NEWS, April 16, 2020, April 14, 2020, April 16, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200416020323/https://apnews.com/8f170d4aae2073c692d0fa40da6abcf4, live,
    • U.S. president Donald Trump announces that the U.S. will suspend funding towards the World Health Organization (WHO) pending an investigation of its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its relationship with China.NEWS, Betsy Klein, Jennifer Hansler, Trump halts World Health Organization funding over handling of coronavirus outbreak,www.cnn.com/2020/04/14/politics/donald-trump-world-health-organization-funding-coronavirus/index.html, June 3, 2020, CNN, April 14, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200414234419/https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/14/politics/donald-trump-world-health-organization-funding-coronavirus/index.html, live,
• April 15
  • COVID-19 pandemic:
    • The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 2 million worldwide.NEWS, Mayberry, Kate, Siddiqui, Usaid, Najjar, Farah, Global coronavirus cases exceed two million: Live updates,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/trump-cuts-funding-coronavirus-pandemic-live-updates-200414231400449.html, April 15, 2020, Al Jazeera English, Aljazeera, April 16, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200416003942/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/trump-cuts-funding-coronavirus-pandemic-live-updates-200414231400449.html, live,
    • The 2020 Tour de France is delayed until August 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.WEB, Ben, Church, Tour de France delayed amid coronavirus pandemic,edition.cnn.com/2020/04/15/sport/tour-de-france-macron-postponement-coronavirus-spt-intl/index.html, June 3, 2020, CNN, April 15, 2020, April 15, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200415125537/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/15/sport/tour-de-france-macron-postponement-coronavirus-spt-intl/index.html, live,
    • The 2020 South Korean legislative election is held to elect all 300 members of the National Assembly of South Korea and the Democratic Party of Korea-Platform Party alliance wins 180 out of 300 seats.NEWS, April 16, 2020, South Korea election: Ruling party wins amid coronavirus outbreak, en-GB, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52304781, March 21, 2022, March 21, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220321145156/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52304781, live,
• April 17
  • The China Securities Regulatory Commission approves a transaction in which Switzerland’s Credit Suisse will take a majority interest in a China securities firm, making Credit Suisse the first foreign bank to own a majority of such a company since the easing of foreign ownership rules in 2018.NEWS, April 17, 2020, Credit Suisse gets approval to take majority stake in China JV, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-credit-suisse-gp-china-idUSKBN21Z1V7, June 3, 2020, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603184331/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-credit-suisse-gp-china-idUSKBN21Z1V7, live,
  • COVID-19 pandemic:
    • China revises the COVID-19 death toll in Wuhan upward, adding 1,290 more fatalities to bring the country’s reported COVID-19 deaths to 4,632.NEWS, Coronavirus: China outbreak city Wuhan raises death toll by 50%,www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-52321529, April 19, 2020, BBC, April 17, 2020, April 17, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200417212529/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-52321529, live,
    • Europe surpasses 100,000 COVID-19-related deaths.WEB, Europe reaches grim milestone, surpasses 100,000 coronavirus deaths,news.yahoo.com/europe-reaches-grim-milestone-surpasses-145300436.html, news.yahoo.com, April 19, 2020, Apr 19, 2020, April 24, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200424001718/https://news.yahoo.com/europe-reaches-grim-milestone-surpasses-145300436.html, live,
    • The U.N. Human Rights Office accuses Myanmar of carrying out daily airstrikes in the Rakhine and Chin states and that at least 32 civilians have been killed since March 23. The separatist Arakan Army unilaterally declared a month-long ceasefire to fight the pandemic, but the military rejected the ceasefire claiming a previous ceasefire had been reneged by the insurgents.NEWS, April 17, 2020, U.N. says mostly women and children among 32 killed as insurgents, Myanmar military clash, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-rakhine-un-idUSKBN21Z1DJ, June 3, 2020, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603184331/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-rakhine-un-idUSKBN21Z1DJ, live,
• April 18 – 44 suspected Boko Haram members are found dead, apparently due to poisoning, inside a prison in N’Djamena, Chad.NEWS, AFP, April 18, 2020, 44 suspected Boko Haram members found dead in Chad prison, The Guardian,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/18/44-suspected-boko-haram-members-found-dead-in-chad-prison, June 3, 2020, 0261-3077, June 21, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200621144658/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/18/44-suspected-boko-haram-members-found-dead-in-chad-prison, live,
• April 19
  • COVID-19 pandemic: Unrest breaks out in Paris, Berlin and Vladikavkaz as opposition to COVID-19 lockdowns continue.NEWS, Harding, Luke, April 20, 2020, Germany opens some shops as Merkel warns of second wave of coronavirus, The Guardian,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/20/german-shops-open-angela-merkel-warns-second-wave-coronavirus, June 3, 2020, 0261-3077, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603055609/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/20/german-shops-open-angela-merkel-warns-second-wave-coronavirus, live,
• April 20
  • Oil prices reach a record low, with West Texas Intermediate falling into negative values.WEB, Oil prices fall to historic lows,www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/apr/20/coronavirus-live-news-us-deaths-pass-40000-as-italy-records-lowest-fatalities-in-a-week-latest-updates?page=with:block-5e9de6808f0895b8b22830d0block-5e9de6808f0895b8b22830d0, The Guardian, April 20, 2020, April 20, 2020, April 21, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200421104143/https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/apr/20/coronavirus-live-news-us-deaths-pass-40000-as-italy-records-lowest-fatalities-in-a-week-latest-updates?page=with:block-5e9de6808f0895b8b22830d0block-5e9de6808f0895b8b22830d0, live,
  • The Industrial Bank of Korea agrees to pay US$86 million and will enter a two-year deferred prosecution agreement to settle lawsuits with the U.S. Department of Justice and the state of New York over a 2011 scheme to help transfer US$1 billion to Iran.NEWS, April 21, 2020, Industrial Bank of Korea settles U.S., New York criminal probes over $1 billion Iran transfer, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-ibk-new-york-idUSKBN2221ZB, June 3, 2020, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603200224/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ibk-new-york-idUSKBN2221ZB, live,
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White Alliance leader Benny Gantz agree on a deal to form a unity government, thus ending more than a year of political deadlock. As part of the deal, Netanyahu will hold onto his position for 18 more months, with Gantz replacing him afterwards.WEB, After impasse of over a year, Netanyahu and Gantz agree to form a government,www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-gantz-reach-agreement-to-form-national-emergency-government/, June 3, 2020, timesofisrael.com, May 29, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200529065907/https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-gantz-reach-agreement-to-form-national-emergency-government/, live,
• April 21 – Mozambique police say 52 male villagers were killed by Islamist militants earlier this month in Muidumbe District, Cabo Delgado Province, after they refused to join their ranks.NEWS, April 21, 2020, Islamist insurgents kill 52 villagers in Mozambique, police say, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-mozambique-insurgency-idUSKCN2233AV, June 3, 2020, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603200226/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mozambique-insurgency-idUSKCN2233AV, live,
• April 22 – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps deploys the country’s first military satellite, using a new satellite carrier called “Ghased” (“Messenger“).WEB, Welle (dw.com), Deutsche, Iran launches military satellite amid tensions with US {{!, DW {{!}} 22.04.2020|url=https://www.dw.com/en/iran-launches-military-satellite-amid-tensions-with-us/a-53205568|access-date=June 3, 2020|website=DW.COM|archive-date=June 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614060732www.dw.com/en/iran-launches-military-satellite-amid-tensions-with-us/a-53205568|url-status=live}}
• April 23
  • Syrian Civil War: Two former high-ranking members of the Syrian Army go on trial in Koblenz, Germany, for alleged war crimes committed during the civil war. It is the first time that Syrian military officials are prosecuted for their roles in the conflict.WEB, World’s first Syria torture trial opens in Germany,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/world-syria-torture-trial-opens-germany-200423081540338.html, June 3, 2020, aljazeera.com, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603200211/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/world-syria-torture-trial-opens-germany-200423081540338.html, live,
  • COVID-19 pandemic: Facebook removes “pseudoscience” and “conspiracy theory” as options for targeted ads as criticism mounts against social media for its role in spreading misinformation about COVID-19.NEWS, April 24, 2020, Facebook gets rid of ‘pseudoscience’ ad-targeting category, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-facebook-ads-idUSKCN2253CC, June 3, 2020, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603201548/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-facebook-ads-idUSKCN2253CC, live,
• April 25
  • Yemeni Civil War: The Southern Transitional Council (STC) announces the establishment of a self-rule administration in southern Yemen and deploys forces in Aden.NEWS, April 26, 2020, Yemen separatists announce self-rule in south, complicating peace efforts, Reuters,uk.reuters.com/article/uk-yemen-security-south-idUKKCN228001, June 3, 2020, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603200212/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-yemen-security-south-idUKKCN228001, live, Governors of multiple southern Yemeni Governorates and Socotra island reject the STC’s claim to self-rule and declare their loyalty to President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.WEB, Yemen southern provinces reject separatists’ claim to self-rule,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/yemen-southern-provinces-reject-separatists-claim-rule-200426160607212.html, June 3, 2020, aljazeera.com, May 28, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200528040902/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/yemen-southern-provinces-reject-separatists-claim-rule-200426160607212.html, live, Months later on July 19, the STC accepts a Saudi-brokered peace deal and abandons its self-rule aspirations.WEB, July 29, 2020, Yemen’s separatists to give up self-rule, push peace deal,apnews.com/c0d8d226b7c8c655f34afe830d90c8c4, July 29, 2020, AP NEWS, July 29, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200729041735/https://apnews.com/c0d8d226b7c8c655f34afe830d90c8c4, live,
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The global death toll from COVID-19 exceeds 200,000.NEWS, Vincent, Isabel, Coronavirus death toll tops 200,000 globally,nypost.com/2020/04/25/coronavirus-death-toll-tops-200000-globally/, April 26, 2020, New York Post, April 25, 2020, April 26, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200426000208/https://nypost.com/2020/04/25/coronavirus-death-toll-tops-200000-globally/, live, The UK becomes the fifth country to report 20,000 deaths.WEB, Europe’s Virus Deaths Slow While U.K. Fatalities Pass 20,000,news.yahoo.com/europe-virus-deaths-slow-merkel-123743375.html, news.yahoo.com, April 25, 2020, Apr 26, 2020, April 26, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200426022235/https://news.yahoo.com/europe-virus-deaths-slow-merkel-123743375.html, live,
• April 26 – King Salman issues a royal decree, declaring that people will no longer be executed in Saudi Arabia for crimes they were convicted of when they were minors.NEWS, April 26, 2020, Saudi Arabia scraps execution for those who committed crimes as minors: Commission, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-rights-execution-idUSKCN2280LI, June 3, 2020, April 27, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200427065058/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-rights-execution-idUSKCN2280LI, live,
• April 27 – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases passes 3 million worldwide, while the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. passes 1 million.NEWS, Salo, Jackie, 3 million coronavirus cases have now been reported worldwide,nypost.com/2020/04/27/3-million-coronavirus-cases-have-been-reported-worldwide/, April 28, 2020, New York Post, April 27, 2020, December 21, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201221142615/https://nypost.com/2020/04/27/3-million-coronavirus-cases-have-been-reported-worldwide/, live, NEWS, Oliviera, Nelson, U.S. set to become first country with 1 million reported coronavirus cases,www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-united-states-first-country-one-million-cases-20200427-ndgyccahcbgyplrawxkc23pgfa-story.html, April 28, 2020, NY Daily News, April 27, 2020, December 21, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201221145400/https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-united-states-first-country-one-million-cases-20200427-ndgyccahcbgyplrawxkc23pgfa-story.html, live,
• April 28
  • A fast radio burst is detected from the Magnetar SGR 1935+2154, the first ever detected inside the Milky Way, and the first to be linked to a known source.WEB, ATel 13681: A bright millisecond-timescale radio burst from the direction of the Galactic magnetar SGR 1935+2154,www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=13681, June 3, 2020, ATel, May 2, 2020,www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=13681," title="web.archive.org/web/20200502013120www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=13681,">web.archive.org/web/20200502013120www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=13681, live,
  • Colombia formalizes its membership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), becoming the 37th nation of the organization.WEB, Global OECD welcomes Colombia as its 37th Member - OECD,www.oecd.org/colombia/global-oecd-welcomes-colombia-as-its-37th-member.htm, June 3, 2020, oecd.org, June 2, 2020,www.oecd.org/colombia/global-oecd-welcomes-colombia-as-its-37th-member.htm," title="web.archive.org/web/20200602174243www.oecd.org/colombia/global-oecd-welcomes-colombia-as-its-37th-member.htm,">web.archive.org/web/20200602174243www.oecd.org/colombia/global-oecd-welcomes-colombia-as-its-37th-member.htm, live,
  • The Indian Ministry of External Affairs condemns the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom after its annual report recommends placing India on the “countries of particular concern” blacklist over the Citizenship Amendment Act, the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, and controversial comments made by Home Minister Amit Shah, among others.WEB, India should be placed on religious freedom blacklist: US panel,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/watchdog-india-religious-freedom-blacklist-200429030352021.html, June 3, 2020, aljazeera.com, June 8, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200608025829/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/watchdog-india-religious-freedom-blacklist-200429030352021.html, live,
• April 29 – (52768) 1998 OR2, a near-Earth asteroid that is 2 kilometers (1.2 mi) wide, makes a close approach of 0.042 AU (6.3 million km; 16 LD) to Earth. It will not approach closer than this until 2079.WEB, Mile-wide asteroid skims past Earth at 19,000mph,news.sky.com/story/mile-wide-asteroid-will-skim-past-earth-today-at-19-000mph-11980370, June 3, 2020, Sky News, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603201342/https://news.sky.com/story/mile-wide-asteroid-will-skim-past-earth-today-at-19-000mph-11980370, live,
• April 30
  • NASA officially selects SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Dynetics to build its next-generation lunar lander to carry American astronauts to the Moon by 2024.NEWS, May 1, 2020, Musk’s SpaceX, Bezos’ Blue Origin land contracts to build NASA’s astronaut moon lander, Reuters,uk.reuters.com/article/us-space-exploration-nasa-idUKKBN22C3DI, June 3, 2020, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603200224/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-space-exploration-nasa-idUKKBN22C3DI, live,
  • Bulgaria applies for ERM II (the “waiting room” for the Eurozone), due to join along with Croatia in July 2020.WEB, Bulgaria economy briefing: Bulgaria Changes Legislation to Join ERM2 Exchange Rate Mechanism – China-CEE Institute, March 31, 2020,china-cee.eu/2020/03/31/bulgaria-economy-briefing-bulgaria-changes-legislation-to-join-erm2-exchange-rate-mechanism/, May 22, 2020, July 23, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200723173849/https://china-cee.eu/2020/03/31/bulgaria-economy-briefing-bulgaria-changes-legislation-to-join-erm2-exchange-rate-mechanism/, live,

May

• May 1
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The total number of recovered COVID-19 patients reaches 1 million worldwide, according to data from The Johns Hopkins University.NEWS, Horn, Austin, More Than 1 Million People Have Recovered From COVID-19 Worldwide,www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/01/849065983/more-than-1-million-people-have-recovered-from-covid-19-worldwide, May 3, 2020, NPR, May 1, 2020, May 2, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200502135057/https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/05/01/849065983/more-than-1-million-people-have-recovered-from-covid-19-worldwide, live,
  • Guanare prison riot: A riot and attempted escape attempt leaves 47 dead and 75 injured in the Centro Penitenciario de los Llanos in Guanare, Venezuela.WEB, May 3, 2020, Familias de reos muertos en penal de Guanare acusan a autoridades de masacre,efectococuyo.com/sucesos/familias-de-reos-muertos-en-penal-de-guanare-acusan-a-autoridades-de-masacre/, Efecto Cocuyo, June 29, 2021, June 29, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210629162941/https://efectococuyo.com/sucesos/familias-de-reos-muertos-en-penal-de-guanare-acusan-a-autoridades-de-masacre/, live,
• May 2 – The United Nations publishes a report stating that Russia’s indiscriminate bombing of civilians in Syria constitutes a war crime.WEB,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/02/russia-committed-war-crimes-in-syria-finds-un-report, Russia committed war crimes in Syria, finds UN report, TheGuardian.com, March 2, 2020, September 9, 2021, October 26, 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231026062307/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/02/russia-committed-war-crimes-in-syria-finds-un-report, live, WEB,www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=25638&LangID=E, OHCHR &124; UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria: Unprecedented levels of displacement and dire conditions for civilians in the Syrian Arab Republic, www.ohchr.org, September 9, 2021, September 9, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210909005955/https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/Pages/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsID=25638&LangID=E, live, WEB,www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/22/russia-and-syria-step-up-airstrikes-against-civilians-in-idlib, Russia and Syria step up airstrikes against civilians in Idlib, TheGuardian.com, July 22, 2019, September 9, 2021, July 31, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200731063108/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/22/russia-and-syria-step-up-airstrikes-against-civilians-in-idlib, live,
• May 3–4 – Venezuelan dissidents and a North American-based private military company, Silvercorp USA, unsuccessfully attempt to infiltrate Venezuela and forcibly remove President Nicolás Maduro from office.NEWS, From a Miami condo to the Venezuelan coast, how a plan to ‘capture’ Maduro went rogue,www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/from-a-miami-condo-to-the-venezuelan-coast-how-a-plan-to-capture-maduro-went-rogue/2020/05/06/046222bc-8e4a-11ea-9322-a29e75effc93_story.html, Faiola, Anthony, DeYoung, Karen, Herrero, Ana Vanessa, May 6, 2020, The Washington Post, May 30, 2020, May 11, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200511013639/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/from-a-miami-condo-to-the-venezuelan-coast-how-a-plan-to-capture-maduro-went-rogue/2020/05/06/046222bc-8e4a-11ea-9322-a29e75effc93_story.html, live,
• May 4 – A team of British and Kenyan scientists announce the discovery of Microsporidia MB, a parasitic microbe in the Microsporidia fungi group that blocks mosquitos from carrying malaria, potentially paving the way for the control of malaria.JOURNAL, Herren, Jeremy K., Mbaisi, Lilian, Mararo, Enock, Makhulu, Edward E., Mobegi, Victor A., Butungi, Hellen, Mancini, Maria Vittoria, Oundo, Joseph W., Teal, Evan T., Pinaud, Silvain, Lawniczak, Mara K. N., May 4, 2020, A microsporidian impairs Plasmodium falciparum transmission in Anopheles arabiensis mosquitoes, Nature Communications, 11, 1, 2187, 10.1038/s41467-020-16121-y, 32366903, 7198529, 2020NatCo..11.2187H, 2041-1723,
• May 5 – COVID-19 pandemic: The U.K. death toll from COVID-19 becomes the highest in Europe at 32,313 after exceeding the death toll of 29,029 in Italy.NEWS,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/05/uk-coronavirus-death-toll-rises-above-32000-to-highest-in-europe, UK coronavirus death toll rises above 32,000 to highest in Europe, The Guardian, May 5, 2020, May 5, 2020, May 18, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200518205457/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/05/uk-coronavirus-death-toll-rises-above-32000-to-highest-in-europe, live,
• May 6
  • Astronomers announce the discovery of the first black hole located in a star system visible to the naked eye.WEB, ESO Instrument Finds Closest Black Hole to Earth - Invisible object has two companion stars visible to the naked eye,www.eso.org/public/news/eso2007/, information@eso.org, eso.org, May 12, 2020, May 6, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200506232455/https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2007/, live,
  • COVID-19 pandemic: New evidence indicates that an Algerian-born French fishmonger, who had not traveled to China and did not have contact with any Chinese nationals, was treated for pneumonia from an unknown source on December 27, 2019, now identified as COVID-19.WEB, Submission, Internal, Emergence of early COVID-19 case in France may hold new clues to pandemic’s spread,www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/05/06/world/early-covid-19-france/, The Japan Times, May 6, 2020, May 6, 2020, May 11, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200511125046/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/05/06/world/early-covid-19-france/, live,
• May 9 – Several Chinese and Indian soldiers are injured in a cross-border clash at the Nathu La crossing. About 150 troops participated in the face-off, which involved fistfights and stone-throwing.NEWS, Indian and Chinese soldiers injured in cross-border fistfight, says Delhi,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/11/indian-and-chinese-soldiers-injured-in-cross-border-fistfight-says-delhi, Agence France-Presse, May 11, 2020, The Guardian, May 12, 2020, January 2, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210102141346/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/11/indian-and-chinese-soldiers-injured-in-cross-border-fistfight-says-delhi, live,
• May 8
  • The Aurangabad railway accident occurred in India. 17 migrants were sleeping on the trains when a freight train collided and killed 16 people and injured 1.WEB, 2020-05-08, Aurangabad train accident: 16 migrant workers run over, probe ordered,indianexpress.com/article/india/india-lockdown-maharashtra-aurangabad-migrant-workers-killed-train-6399556/, 2023-09-11, The Indian Express, en, October 17, 2023,web.archive.org/web/20231017012422/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-lockdown-maharashtra-aurangabad-migrant-workers-killed-train-6399556/, live,
• May 10
  • The Iranian Navy frigate Jamaran accidentally strikes the Iranian support vessel Konarak with a missile, killing nineteen sailors. This is the first friendly fire incident since February 2019, when an Indian Mil Mi-17 helicopter was mistakenly shot down by Indian air defense forces.NEWS, May 11, 2020, Iranian sailors killed in ‘friendly fire’ incident, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-52612511, May 22, 2020, May 12, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200512193252/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-52612511, live, WEB, Indian Air Force probe finds friendly fire caused February 27 Budgam chopper crash, 5 officers in dock,www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-air-force-budgam-chopper-crash-friendly-fire-officers-guilty-1590764-2019-08-23, August 23, 2019, Manjeet Singh, Negi, India Today, May 22, 2020, May 9, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200509213820/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/indian-air-force-budgam-chopper-crash-friendly-fire-officers-guilty-1590764-2019-08-23, live,
  • COVID-19 pandemic: Wuhan reports its first coronavirus cases in more than a month. An 89-year-old man is confirmed positive, but his wife and several members of the community are recorded as asymptomatic cases.NEWS, Pickrell, Ryan, Wuhan reported its first new coronavirus case in more than a month,www.businessinsider.sg/wuhan-reports-first-new-coronavirus-case-in-over-a-month-2020-5?r=US&IR=T, May 11, 2020, Business Insider US, May 10, 2020, May 26, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200526014359/https://www.businessinsider.sg/wuhan-reports-first-new-coronavirus-case-in-over-a-month-2020-5?r=US&IR=T,
• May 11 – The Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology publishes the result of radiocarbon and DNA analysis from the fossils that has been found in the Bacho Kiro cave, Bulgaria. The result, showing that the fossils belong to Homo sapiens instead of Neanderthal, indicates that modern humans may have arrived in Europe thousands of years earlier than previously thought.WEB, Welle (dw.com), Deutsche, Bulgarian fossils suggest Homo sapiens arrived in Europe earlier than previously thought {{!, DW {{!}} 12.05.2020|url=https://www.dw.com/en/bulgarian-fossils-suggest-homo-sapiens-arrived-in-europe-earlier-than-previously-thought/a-53399586|access-date=June 3, 2020|website=DW.COM|archive-date=June 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603015742www.dw.com/en/bulgarian-fossils-suggest-homo-sapiens-arrived-in-europe-earlier-than-previously-thought/a-53399586|url-status=live}}
• May 12 – Gunmen storm a maternity hospital and kill 24 people, including two newborn babies, in Dashte Barchi, a majority-Shia neighborhood of Kabul, Afghanistan. In a separate incident in Kuz Kunar, 32 people are killed at a funeral by a suicide bomber.WEB, Babies among 24 killed as gunmen attack maternity ward in Kabul,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/afghanistan-gunmen-storm-kabul-hospital-200512071439807.html, Al Jazeera, May 13, 2020, September 18, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200918174818/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/afghanistan-gunmen-storm-kabul-hospital-200512071439807.html, live,
• May 14
  • COVID-19 pandemic:
    • The global death toll from COVID-19 exceeds 300,000.NEWS, Picheta, Rob, May 14, 2020, Coronavirus global death toll passes 300,000 as countries wait in lockdown, CNN,edition.cnn.com/2020/05/14/world/coronavirus-global-death-toll-300000-intl/index.html, May 15, 2020, May 15, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200515010444/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/14/world/coronavirus-global-death-toll-300000-intl/index.html, live,
    • The UN warns of a global mental health crisis caused by isolation, fear, uncertainty and economic turmoil.WEB, May 14, 2020, U.N. warns of global mental health crisis due to COVID-19 pandemic,www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-mentalhealth/u-n-warns-of-global-mental-health-crisis-due-to-covid-19-pandemic-idUSKBN22Q0AO, May 14, 2020, Reuters, May 14, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200514035557/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-mentalhealth/u-n-warns-of-global-mental-health-crisis-due-to-covid-19-pandemic-idUSKBN22Q0AO, live,
  • NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the military alliance is “ready to support” the UN-recognized Government of National Accord while Greece, a member state of NATO, strongly criticizes Stoltenberg’s remarks, saying his recognition of the “Muslim Brotherhood government” does not reflect the positions of the military alliance.WEB, NATO is ready to support GNA in Libya, the bloc’s Chief says {{!, The Libya Observer|url=https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/nato-ready-support-gna-libya-blocs-chief-says|access-date=June 3, 2020|website=libyaobserver.ly|archive-date=June 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603015754www.libyaobserver.ly/news/nato-ready-support-gna-libya-blocs-chief-says|url-status=live}}NEWS, Besser, Robert, Greece Sharply Rebukes NATO Secretary-General’s Support of Muslim Brotherhood in Libya {{!, GreekReporter.com|newspaper=Greekreporter.com|date=May 15, 2020|url=https://greece.greekreporter.com/2020/05/15/greece-sharply-rebukes-nato-secretary-generals-support-of-muslim-brotherhood-in-libya/|access-date=June 3, 2020|archive-date=May 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527043315greece.greekreporter.com/2020/05/15/greece-sharply-rebukes-nato-secretary-generals-support-of-muslim-brotherhood-in-libya/|url-status=live}}
• May 15 – Researchers announce a 2.5 cm millipede fossil belonging to the Kampecaris genus, discovered on the island of Kerrera in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, is the world’s oldest-known land animal, which lived 425 million years ago in the Silurian period.NEWS, May 15, 2020, Myriapod divergence times differ between molecular clock and fossil evidence: U/Pb zircon ages of the earliest fossil millipede-bearing sediments and their significance, Historical Biology, An International Journal of Paleobiology, 10.1080/08912963.2020.1762593, Brookfield, M. E., Catlos, E. J., Suarez, S. E., 33, 10, 2014–2018,
• May 16 – Félicien Kabuga, a Rwandan businessman responsible for supporting the Rwandan genocide, is arrested in Asnières-sur-Seine, France, after 26 years as a fugitive.WEB, Mechanism fugitive Félicien Kabuga arrested today,www.irmct.org/en/news/20-05-17-mechanism-fugitive-f%C3%A9licien-kabuga-arrested-today, May 16, 2020, United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, May 17, 2020, May 17, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200517094025/https://www.irmct.org/en/news/20-05-17-mechanism-fugitive-f%C3%A9licien-kabuga-arrested-today,
• May 18
  • The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announces that nearly 1 million people are affected and at least 24 people have died in flash floods that have hit Beledweyne and Jowhar, Somalia.WEB, Guled, Abdi, May 18, 2020, Nearly 1 million people affected by Somalia floods: UN,www.ctvnews.ca/world/nearly-1-million-people-affected-by-somalia-floods-un-1.4943847, June 3, 2020, CTVNews, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603012409/https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/nearly-1-million-people-affected-by-somalia-floods-un-1.4943847, live,
  • In a historic move, the World Health Organization holds its annual World Health Assembly using video conferencing instead of in-person meetings.NEWS, Unprecedented World Health Assembly Convenes Online As Pandemic Rages,www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/05/17/857206256/unprecedented-world-health-assembly-convenes-online-as-pandemic-rages, June 3, 2020, NPR, May 17, 2020, Beaubien, Jason, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603024535/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/05/17/857206256/unprecedented-world-health-assembly-convenes-online-as-pandemic-rages, live,
• May 19 – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announces the termination of all agreements, including security ones, with Israel and the United States in response to Israel’s plans to annex the Jordan Valley.WEB, President Abbas declares end to agreements with Israel, US; turns over responsibility on occupied lands to Israel,english.wafa.ps/page.aspx?id=SbnBNCa117154132029aSbnBNC, June 3, 2020, english.wafa.ps, June 3, 2020,english.wafa.ps/page.aspx?id=SbnBNCa117154132029aSbnBNC," title="web.archive.org/web/20200603024533english.wafa.ps/page.aspx?id=SbnBNCa117154132029aSbnBNC,">web.archive.org/web/20200603024533english.wafa.ps/page.aspx?id=SbnBNCa117154132029aSbnBNC, live,
• May 21
  • Cyclone Amphan makes landfall in eastern India and Bangladesh, killing over 100 people and forcing the evacuation of more than 4 million others. It causes over US$13 billion in damage, making it the costliest cyclone ever recorded in the North Indian Ocean, shattering the record previously held by Nargis.NEWS, May 20, 2020, Cyclone Amphan wreaks deadly havoc, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52734259, May 22, 2020, November 22, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20221122132750/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-52734259, live,
  • The U.S. announces it will withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty within six months, alleging continuous violations by Russia.NEWS, May 21, 2020, US to withdraw from ‘Open Skies’ arms control deal, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52760420, June 3, 2020, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603134816/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52760420, live,
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 5 million worldwide, with 106,000 new cases recorded over the past 24 hours, the highest single-day figure so far.WEB, Coronavirus live news: global cases pass 5m as EU health chief warns of second wave,www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/may/21/coronavirus-live-news-global-cases-near-5m-as-eu-health-chief-warns-of-second-wave?page=with:block-5ec5d5648f0886ce4f5d7791block-5ec5d5648f0886ce4f5d7791, The Guardian, May 21, 2020, May 21, 2020, May 21, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200521120124/https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/may/21/coronavirus-live-news-global-cases-near-5m-as-eu-health-chief-warns-of-second-wave?page=with:block-5ec5d5648f0886ce4f5d7791block-5ec5d5648f0886ce4f5d7791, live,
• May 22
  • Flight PK8303, a Pakistan International Airlines passenger aircraft, crashes in a residential area near Karachi, in Pakistan, killing 97 of the 99 total people on board and injuring dozens on the ground.WEB, Pakistan International Airlines passenger plane crashes in Karachi,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-52766904, BBC News, May 22, 2020, May 22, 2020, May 22, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200522104233/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-52766904, live,
  • COVID-19 pandemic: Brazil overtakes Russia to become the country with the second highest number of COVID-19 cases, with over 330,000 reported. President Jair Bolsonaro continues to dismiss the threat of the virus.WEB, Brazil now has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases in the world after US,edition.cnn.com/2020/05/22/americas/brazil-coronavirus-cases/index.html, CNN, May 23, 2020, May 23, 2020, May 23, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200523010629/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/22/americas/brazil-coronavirus-cases/index.html, live,
• May 23 – COVID-19 pandemic: China reports no new cases for the first time since the pandemic began, according to the National Health Commission.NEWS, May 23, 2020, China reports no new coronavirus cases for first time since pandemic began, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-idUSKBN22Z047, June 3, 2020, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603024546/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-china-idUSKBN22Z047, live,
• May 24
  • Mining corporation Rio Tinto admits to blowing up the 46,000-year-old Juukan Gorge caves in the Pilbara area of Western Australia. The firm later issues an apology to the two Aboriginal peoples who are the traditional owners of the site.NEWS, May 31, 2020, Mining firm sorry for destroying Aboriginal caves, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-52869502, June 3, 2020, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603105124/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-52869502, live,
  • Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi pardons 3,157 prisoners to celebrate Eid al-Fitr and, two days later, President of Zambia Edgar Lungu pardons nearly 3,000 inmates to commemorate Africa Freedom Day.WEB, Egypt pardons former policeman jailed for murder of pop singer Tamim,www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-pardons-former-policeman-jailed-murder-pop-singer-tamim, June 3, 2020, Middle East Eye, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603024538/https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egypt-pardons-former-policeman-jailed-murder-pop-singer-tamim, live, NEWS, May 26, 2020, Zambian president pardons gay couple jailed for 15 years, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-zambia-lgbt-idUSKBN2321ZZ, June 3, 2020, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603024532/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zambia-lgbt-idUSKBN2321ZZ, live,
• May 25
  • The 2020 Surinamese general election is held to elect all 51 members of the National Assembly of Suriname.WEB, May 31, 2020, Suriname opposition parties near power following election,apnews.com/article/95b3118f0b8fb12f8c75de677f101360, March 21, 2022, AP NEWS, en, March 21, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220321151249/https://apnews.com/article/95b3118f0b8fb12f8c75de677f101360, live,
  • Euroleague Basketball, announced that it cancelled the 2019-20 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup seasons due to COVID-19 pandemic.
• May 26
  • Protests caused by the murder of George Floyd break out across hundreds of cities in the U.S.WEB,www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/may/29/george-floyd-killing-protests-minneapolis-minnesota-us-twitter-donald-trump-latest-news-live, George Floyd protests: man killed in Detroit as demonstrations rage across US – as it happened, May 30, 2020, The Guardian, May 30, 2020, June 19, 2023,web.archive.org/web/20230619024228/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2020/may/29/george-floyd-killing-protests-minneapolis-minnesota-us-twitter-donald-trump-latest-news-live, live, and around the world.NEWS, From Murals To Tweets: The Global South Shows Solidarity With George Floyd Protests,www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/06/06/871010812/from-murals-to-tweets-the-global-south-shows-solidarity-with-george-floyd-protes, NPR, June 6, 2020, June 9, 2020, Sarmiento, Isabella Gomez, June 8, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200608223852/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/06/06/871010812/from-murals-to-tweets-the-global-south-shows-solidarity-with-george-floyd-protes, live, These are followed by further protests and rallies on June 6 against racism and police brutality around the world.NEWS, June 7, 2020, As George Floyd is mourned, the world stops to say ‘enough’, Sydney Morning Herald,www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/as-george-floyd-is-mourned-the-world-stops-to-say-enough-20200607-p5507f.html, June 7, 2020, June 7, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200607084915/https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/as-george-floyd-is-mourned-the-world-stops-to-say-enough-20200607-p5507f.html, live,
  • Costa Rica becomes the first Central American country to legalise same-sex marriage.WEB, Costa Rica latest country to legalize same-sex marriage,www.wral.com/costa-rica-latest-country-to-legalize-same-sex-marriage/19114023/, May 26, 2020, WRAL.com, May 26, 2020, June 4, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200604200859/https://www.wral.com/costa-rica-latest-country-to-legalize-same-sex-marriage/19114023/,
  • LATAM Airlines, the largest air carrier in Latin America, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.NEWS, May 26, 2020, Latam Air Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Stymied by Lockdowns,www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-26/latam-airlines-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy-stymied-by-lockdowns, June 3, 2020, Bloomberg.com, September 6, 2023,web.archive.org/web/20230906181752/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-26/latam-airlines-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy-stymied-by-lockdowns, live,
• May 27
  • The Chinese National People’s Congress votes in favour of national security legislation that criminalizes “secession”, “subversion”, “terrorism” and foreign interference in Hong Kong;WEB, Hong Kong security bill backed by China’s parliament,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-52829176, BBC News, May 28, 2020, May 28, 2020, May 28, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200528072233/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-52829176, live, the legislation grants sweeping powers to the Chinese central government to suppress the Hong Kong democracy movement, including banning activist groups and curtailing civil liberties.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2020/05/28/world/asia/china-hong-kong-crackdown.html, Keith Bradsher, May 28, 2020, China Approves Plan to Rein In Hong Kong, Defying Worldwide Outcry, The New York Times, July 18, 2020, July 21, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200721030540/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/28/world/asia/china-hong-kong-crackdown.html, live, The U.S. government responds by declaring Hong Kong is “no longer autonomous” under the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act.Nick Wadhams and Ben Bartenstein. U.S. Says Hong Kong’s Autonomy Is Gone, Sowing China Trade Doubt {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720190139www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-27/pompeo-finds-hong-kong-is-no-longer-autonomous-from-china |date=July 20, 2020 }}, Bloomberg (May 27, 2020).
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The U.S. death toll passes 100,000 – more Americans than were killed in the Vietnam War and Korean War combined, and approaching that of the First World War, where 116,000 Americans died in combat.WEB, US passes 100,000 coronavirus deaths as states relax lockdown measures,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/27/us-coronavirus-deaths-toll-1000000, The Guardian, May 28, 2020, May 28, 2020, December 21, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201221142847/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/27/us-coronavirus-deaths-toll-1000000, live, The total number of cases continues to rise, although the rate is slowing.WEB, U.S coronavirus deaths top 100,000,www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-coronavirus-deaths-top-100000/ar-BB14FYKn, msn.com, May 27, 2020, December 21, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201221142851/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-coronavirus-deaths-top-100000/ar-BB14FYKn, live,
• May 30 – The first crewed flight of the SpaceX Dragon 2 (initially scheduled for May 27 but delayed due to weather) is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the first crewed spacecraft to take off from U.S. soil since the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2011.WEB, Rocket Report: Demo-2 launch this spring, concerns about Firefly’s backer,arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/rocket-report-demo-2-launch-this-spring-concerns-about-fireflys-backer/2/, February 14, 2020, live,web.archive.org/web/20200227123840/https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/02/rocket-report-demo-2-launch-this-spring-concerns-about-fireflys-backer/2/, February 27, 2020, March 11, 2020,

June

• June 1 – Kivu Ebola epidemic: The World Health Organization reports six new cases of Ebola, and UNICEF reports five deaths, in a renewed outbreak of the disease in Mbandaka, Équateur Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo.NEWS, Maggie, Fox, Five dead in newest Ebola outbreak in Congo, UNICEF says,www.cnn.com/2020/06/01/health/ebola-outbreak-congo-intl/index.html, June 3, 2020, CNN, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603201202/https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/01/health/ebola-outbreak-congo-intl/index.html, live,
• June 2 – A US$5 billion class action lawsuit is filed against Alphabet Inc. and Google, alleging the company violates users’ right to privacy by tracking them in Chrome’s incognito mode.NEWS, June 3, 2020, Google in $5bn lawsuit for tracking in ‘private’ mode, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/business-52887340, June 3, 2020, June 4, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200604010045/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52887340, live,
• June 3
  • Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the UK will change immigration laws to offer a pathway to UK citizenship for all Hong Kong citizens who are eligible for BN(O) status if the government of China imposes new security laws on the territory.NEWS, June 3, 2020, UK to offer citizenship ‘route’ to HK residents, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/uk-52900700, June 3, 2020, June 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200603024718/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52900700, live,
  • SpaceX successfully launches and deploys 60 Starlink satellites into a low Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, bringing the total number of Starlink satellites in orbit to 482.WEB, Thompson, Amy, SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites and lands rocket in dazzling nighttime liftoff,www.space.com/spacex-starlink-internet-satellites-launch-success-june-2020.html, June 4, 2020, Space.com, June 4, 2020, June 4, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200604072355/https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-internet-satellites-launch-success-june-2020.html, live,
  • Russian President Vladimir Putin declares a state of emergency after 20,000 tons of oil leaked into the Ambarnaya River near the Siberian city of Norilsk within the Arctic Circle on May 26, 2020. The World Wildlife Fund said the accident is believed to be the second-largest in modern Russian history.NEWS, June 4, 2020, Vast Arctic oil spill prompts state of emergency, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52915807, June 4, 2020, January 21, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210121190843/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-52915807, live,
• June 4
  • Libya’s Government of National Accord (GNA) says they are in full control of the capital, Tripoli, after forces of the Libyan National Army (LNA) retreat from the territory following months of intense fighting in the city.NEWS, June 4, 2020, Eastern forces quit Libyan capital after year-long assault, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-security-idUSKBN23B1PN, June 4, 2020, June 4, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200604114059/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-security-idUSKBN23B1PN, live,
  • Hong Kong legislative council passed the controversial National Anthem Ordinance.NEWS, June 4, 2020, Hong Kong passes controversial bill to make disrespecting China’s national anthem a crime, Business Insider,www.businessinsider.com/hong-kong-passes-china-national-anthem-law-explainer-2020-6, June 4, 2020, June 4, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200604124758/https://www.businessinsider.com/hong-kong-passes-china-national-anthem-law-explainer-2020-6, live,
• June 5 – The 2020 Saint Kitts and Nevis general election is held to elect all 15 members of the National Assembly of Saint Kitts and Nevis.WEB, August 13, 2020, Elections 2020 {{!, WINNFM 98.9 |url=https://www.winnmediaskn.com/elections-2020/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813052709www.winnmediaskn.com/elections-2020/ |archive-date=August 13, 2020 |access-date=March 21, 2022 }}
• June 7 – COVID-19 pandemic: The global death toll from COVID-19 exceeds 400,000.NEWS,www.nbcnews.com/news/world/global-coronavirus-death-toll-tops-400-000-protesters-continue-defy-n1226951, Global coronavirus death toll tops 400,000 as protesters continue to defy lockdowns, NBC, June 7, 2020, June 7, 2020, June 7, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200607124333/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/global-coronavirus-death-toll-tops-400-000-protesters-continue-defy-n1226951, live,
• June 8 – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 7 million worldwide.NEWS, Coronavirus latest: Global infections top 7 million,www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-latest-global-infections-top-7-million/a-53722461, June 8, 2020, June 8, 2020, DW, June 8, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200608030634/https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-latest-global-infections-top-7-million/a-53722461, live,
• June 9 – COVID-19 pandemic: A Harvard University study suggests that COVID-19 may have been spreading in China as early as August 2019, based on hospital car park usage and web search trends.NEWS, Coronavirus may have been in Wuhan in August, study suggests,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/09/coronavirus-may-have-been-in-wuhan-in-august-study-suggests, June 15, 2020, June 9, 2020, June 9, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200609230554/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/09/coronavirus-may-have-been-in-wuhan-in-august-study-suggests, live,
• June 15
  • At least 20 Indian soldiers and over 40 Chinese forces are killed or injured in skirmishes in the disputed Galwan Valley, the largest escalation along the Sino-Indian border in five decades.WEB, June 16, 2020, Ghosh, Deepshikha, Updates: 20 Indian Soldiers Killed; 43 Chinese Casualties In Ladakh, Says ANI,www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-china-updates-army-officer-2-soldiers-killed-in-violent-face-off-with-china-in-ladakh-2247070, June 16, 2020, June 16, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200616081509/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/india-china-updates-army-officer-2-soldiers-killed-in-violent-face-off-with-china-in-ladakh-2247070, live,
  • Turkish and Iranian forces commence air and artillery strikes against Kurdistan Workers’ Party forces in Iraqi Kurdistan. Turkey launches a land operation in the region on June 17.NEWS, The Guardian,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/17/turkey-launches-major-attack-on-kurdish-militants-in-iraq, Turkey launches major attack on Kurdish militants in Iraq, June 17, 2020, June 17, 2020, June 17, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200617221756/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/17/turkey-launches-major-attack-on-kurdish-militants-in-iraq, live,
• June 16
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 8 million worldwide.NEWS,www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-16/global-coronavirus-cases-more-than-8-million-as-outbreak-expands/12359162, Global coronavirus cases pass 8 million as outbreak expands in Latin America, June 16, 2020, ABC News, June 16, 2020, June 16, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200616170441/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-16/global-coronavirus-cases-more-than-8-million-as-outbreak-expands/12359162, live,
  • North Korea demolishes the Inter-Korean Liaison Office in Kaesong, established in 2018 to improve relations.WEB, North Korea blows up liaison office as tensions rise with South,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/south-korea-north-blew-liaison-office-tensions-rise-200616071045580.html, June 17, 2020, aljazeera.com, June 16, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200616205923/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/south-korea-north-blew-liaison-office-tensions-rise-200616071045580.html, live,
• June 21
  • An annular solar eclipse occurs.WEB, July 13, 2020, 21 June 2020 Annular Solar Eclipse,www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2020-june-21, July 13, 2020, June 21, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200621130547/https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2020-june-21, live,
  • The 2020 Serbian parliamentary election is held to elect all 250 members of the National Assembly of Serbia and the ruling For Our Children coalition won 188 out of 250 seats.WEB, Serbian parliamentary elections well run, but ruling party dominance and lack of media diversity limited voters’ choice, international observers say,www.osce.org/odihr/elections/serbia/455173, March 21, 2022, osce.org, en, March 21, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220321155003/https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/serbia/455173, live, WEB, EWB, June 22, 2020, Serbian parliament left without clear opposition as the ruling party wins partially boycotted elections,europeanwesternbalkans.com/2020/06/22/serbian-parliament-left-without-clear-opposition-as-the-ruling-party-wins-partially-boycotted-elections/, March 21, 2022, European Western Balkans, en-US, June 25, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200625034206/https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2020/06/22/serbian-parliament-left-without-clear-opposition-as-the-ruling-party-wins-partially-boycotted-elections/, live,
• June 22
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 9 million worldwide.NEWS, ABC Action News, COVID-19 cases worldwide surpass 9 million,www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/coronavirus/covid-19-cases-worldwide-surpasses-9-million, June 22, 2020, June 23, 2020, June 23, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200623163115/https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/coronavirus/covid-19-cases-worldwide-surpasses-9-million, live,
  • The 2020 Kiribati presidential election is held and incumbent president Taneti Maamau is reelected.WEB, Ministry of Justice added a new photo. - Ministry of Justice,www.facebook.com/609323272741114/photos/a.609325706074204/1223836521289783/, March 21, 2022, www.facebook.com, en, NEWS, June 23, 2020, Kiribati’s pro-China leader wins re-election in blow to Taiwan, en, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-china-kiribati-idUSKBN23U038, March 21, 2022, March 17, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210317125602/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-kiribati-idUSKBN23U038, live,
  • The 2020 Malawian presidential election is held and Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party is elected president.WEB, Lazarus Chakwera wins Malawi presidential election,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/6/27/malawi-presidential-election-lazarus-chakwera-declared-winner, March 21, 2022, www.aljazeera.com, en, April 3, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220403231820/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/6/27/malawi-presidential-election-lazarus-chakwera-declared-winner, live, WEB, April 20, 2021, Opposition wins historic rerun of Malawi’s presidential vote,apnews.com/article/malawi-southern-africa-ap-top-news-elections-peter-mutharika-3453811a0e1e2cdc3124decfd334e858, March 21, 2022, AP NEWS, en, March 21, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220321162430/https://apnews.com/article/malawi-southern-africa-ap-top-news-elections-peter-mutharika-3453811a0e1e2cdc3124decfd334e858, live, NEWS, June 25, 2020, Malawi presidential election: Chakwera leading - MBC, en-GB, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53185466, March 21, 2022, June 27, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200627194331/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53185466, live, NEWS, June 27, 2020, Malawi opposition leader wins presidential election re-run, en, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-malawi-election-idUSKBN23Y0WK, March 21, 2022, March 21, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220321162430/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malawi-election-idUSKBN23Y0WK, live,
• June 24 – The 2020 Mongolian legislative election is held to elect the State Great Khural and the ruling Mongolian People’s Party wins 62 out of 76 seats.WEB, МОНГОЛ УЛСЫН СОНГУУЛИЙН ЕРӨНХИЙ ХОРОО,www.gec.gov.mn/blog/2862, March 21, 2022, www.gec.gov.mn, June 27, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200627065844/https://www.gec.gov.mn/blog/2862, live, WEB, УИХ-ын 2020 оны сонгуулийн ҮР ДҮН,ikon.mn/elections/2020, March 21, 2022, ikon.mn, en, June 25, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200625081923/https://ikon.mn/elections/2020, live, WEB, April 29, 2021, Mongolian People’s Party retains strong parliament majority,apnews.com/article/ulaanbaatar-virus-outbreak-elections-international-news-china-28ef32c277b02cda88597ca09b514148, March 21, 2022, AP NEWS, en, March 21, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220321163851/https://apnews.com/article/ulaanbaatar-virus-outbreak-elections-international-news-china-28ef32c277b02cda88597ca09b514148, live, NEWS, June 25, 2020, Ruling Mongolian People’s Party wins landslide election, en, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-mongolia-election-idUSKBN23W03K, March 21, 2022, March 21, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220321163851/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mongolia-election-idUSKBN23W03K, live,
• June 27
  • Micheál Martin succeeds Leo Varadkar as Taoiseach of Ireland, with Varadkar becoming Tánaiste in a historic three-party coalition government.WEB,www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/miche%C3%A1l-martin-elected-taoiseach-as-head-of-fianna-f%C3%A1il-fine-gael-and-green-coalition-1.4290529, Micheál Martin elected Taoiseach as head of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green coalition, Irish Times, June 27, 2020, July 1, 2020, June 28, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200628025854/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/miche%C3%A1l-martin-elected-taoiseach-as-head-of-fianna-f%C3%A1il-fine-gael-and-green-coalition-1.4290529, live,
  • The 2020 Icelandic presidential election is held and incumbent president Guðni Th. Jóhannesson is reelected.WEB,hagstofan.s3.amazonaws.com/media/public/2020/24efc240-b9c4-4a77-8694-4c0277871e60.pdf, Presidential election 27 June 2020, January 7, 2023, January 7, 2023,web.archive.org/web/20230107010737/https://hagstofan.s3.amazonaws.com/media/public/2020/24efc240-b9c4-4a77-8694-4c0277871e60.pdf, live, WEB, June 28, 2020, Iceland’s president re-elected with 92 percent of the vote,www.france24.com/en/20200628-iceland-s-president-easily-wins-re-election-with-90-percent-of-votes-partial-results-show, March 21, 2022, France 24, en, March 21, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220321165130/https://www.france24.com/en/20200628-iceland-s-president-easily-wins-re-election-with-90-percent-of-votes-partial-results-show, live,
• June 28
  • COVID-19 pandemic:
    • The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 10 million worldwide.NEWS, Reuters, Global coronavirus cases exceed 10 million,uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-cases/global-coronavirus-cases-exceed-10-million-idUKKBN23Z00D, June 28, 2020, June 28, 2020, June 28, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200628133534/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-cases/global-coronavirus-cases-exceed-10-million-idUKKBN23Z00D, live, The U.S. continues to report the highest number of any country as it reaches 2.5 million, a quarter of all cases globally.NEWS, U.S. Coronavirus Cases Surpass 2.5 Million: Reuters Tally,www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/06/27/us/27reuters-health-coronavirus-usa-cases.html, June 28, 2020, The New York Times, June 27, 2020, June 30, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200630114857/https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/06/27/us/27reuters-health-coronavirus-usa-cases.html,
    • The global death toll from COVID-19 exceeds 500,000.WEB,www.bbc.com/news/world-53212430, Coronavirus: Covid-19 death toll hits 500,000 worldwide, BBC News, June 28, 2020, June 29, 2020, June 28, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200628223139/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-53212430, live,
    • The first round of voting of the 2020 Polish presidential election is held.WEB, April 20, 2021, Exit poll: Polish presidential vote headed for runoff,apnews.com/article/europe-virus-outbreak-ap-top-news-elections-international-news-402fae859c5aaa417d9c95b226d0a4cd, March 21, 2022, AP NEWS, en, March 21, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220321173909/https://apnews.com/article/europe-virus-outbreak-ap-top-news-elections-international-news-402fae859c5aaa417d9c95b226d0a4cd, live, WEB, Poland’s Duda leads in presidential election first round,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/6/28/polands-duda-leads-in-presidential-election-first-round, March 21, 2022, www.aljazeera.com, en, March 21, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220321173909/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/6/28/polands-duda-leads-in-presidential-election-first-round, live, NEWS, June 28, 2020, Poland’s Duda ahead in presidential election first round, en, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-election-exit-polls-idUSKBN23Z0R0, March 21, 2022, March 21, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220321173909/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-poland-election-exit-polls-idUSKBN23Z0R0, live, WEB, June 28, 2020, Polish President Duda faces tough run-off vote July 12, according to exit polls,www.france24.com/en/20200628-election-exit-poll-shows-victory-for-incumbent-polish-president-duda, March 21, 2022, France 24, en, March 21, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220321173909/https://www.france24.com/en/20200628-election-exit-poll-shows-victory-for-incumbent-polish-president-duda, live,
• June 30 – China passes the controversial Hong Kong national security law, allowing China to crack down on opposition to Beijing at home or abroad.NEWS, Buckley, Chris, Bradsher, Keith, May, Tiffany, New Security Law Gives China Sweeping Powers Over Hong Kong, The New York Times,www.nytimes.com/2020/06/29/world/asia/china-hong-kong-security-law-rules.html, July 2, 2020, The New York Times, June 29, 2020, July 4, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200704010406/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/29/world/asia/china-hong-kong-security-law-rules.html, live,

July

• July 1 – Russian voters back a constitutional amendment that, among other things, enables Vladimir Putin to seek two further six-year terms when his current term ends in 2024, potentially allowing him to remain in power until 2036.NEWS, CNN, Russian voters overwhelmingly back a ploy by President Vladimir Putin to rule until 2036,edition.cnn.com/2020/07/01/europe/russia-referendum-putin-power-2036-intl/index.html, July 1, 2020, July 1, 2020, July 1, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200701195839/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/01/europe/russia-referendum-putin-power-2036-intl/index.html, live,
• July 5
  • The 2020 Croatian parliamentary election is held to elect all 151 members of the Croatian Parliament.WEB, April 22, 2021, Croatia’s ruling conservatives win big in parliamentary vote,apnews.com/article/health-parliamentary-elections-elections-virus-outbreak-andrej-plenkovic-bd7b200bec96cad1b9f59885b21ad817, March 28, 2022, AP NEWS, en, March 28, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220328205833/https://apnews.com/article/health-parliamentary-elections-elections-virus-outbreak-andrej-plenkovic-bd7b200bec96cad1b9f59885b21ad817, live, NEWS, July 5, 2020, Croatia’s centre-right HDZ party wins most seats in parliament: exit poll, en, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/croatia-election-exit-polls-idINKBN2460PA, March 28, 2022, March 28, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220328205834/https://www.reuters.com/article/croatia-election-exit-polls-idINKBN2460PA, live, WEB, July 5, 2020, Croatia’s ruling conservatives win parliament vote,www.politico.eu/article/croatias-ruling-conservatives-win-parliament-vote/, March 28, 2022, POLITICO, en-US, March 28, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220328205831/https://www.politico.eu/article/croatias-ruling-conservatives-win-parliament-vote/, live, WEB, Chadwick, Lauren, July 4, 2020, Croatia’s ruling conservatives win parliamentary election,www.euronews.com/2020/07/04/croatia-election-will-the-ruling-party-s-early-election-gamble-pay-off, March 28, 2022, euronews, en, March 28, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220328205831/https://www.euronews.com/2020/07/04/croatia-election-will-the-ruling-party-s-early-election-gamble-pay-off, live,
  • 2020 Dominican Republic general election: Modern Revolutionary Party candidate Luis Abinader is elected president of the Dominican Republic, the Modern Revolutionary Party wins 17 out of 32 seats in the Senate and 86 out of 190 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.NEWS, July 6, 2020, Change in Dominican Republic as opposition wins presidency, en-GB, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-53268860, March 28, 2022, July 5, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200705210130/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-53268860, live, WEB, Dominican opposition declares victory in coronavirus-hit election,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/7/6/dominican-opposition-declares-victory-in-coronavirus-hit-election, March 28, 2022, www.aljazeera.com, en, March 28, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220328205831/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/7/6/dominican-opposition-declares-victory-in-coronavirus-hit-election, live, NEWS, July 5, 2020, Opposition declares victory in Dominican Republic’s virus-scarred vote, en, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/uk-dominicanrepublic-election-idUKKBN2460DO, March 28, 2022, March 28, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220328205831/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-dominicanrepublic-election-idUKKBN2460DO, live, NEWS, July 6, 2020, Dominican Republic’s ruling party candidate concedes defeat, en, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-dominicanrepublic-election-results-idCAKBN24728Y, March 28, 2022, March 28, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220328205835/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dominicanrepublic-election-results-idCAKBN24728Y, live,
• July 7
  • Protests begin throughout Bulgaria with the goal of removing Borisov’s cabinet and Chief Prosecutor Ivan Geshev from office.WEB, Протест пред президентството,www.btv.bg/video/shows/lice-v-lice/videos/protest-pred-prezidentstvoto.html, July 25, 2020, bTV, July 16, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200716040523/https://www.btv.bg/video/shows/lice-v-lice/videos/protest-pred-prezidentstvoto.html, live,
  • COVID-19 pandemic: Thousands of people rally outside the House of the National Assembly of Serbia in Belgrade in response to stricter lockdown measures proposed by President Aleksandar Vučić following an increase of cases in the city.WEB, Protest over weekend lockdown turns violent after tear gas fired,rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a617478/Protest-in-front-of-Serbian-parliament-over-announced-curfew.html, July 25, 2020, N1 Srbija, July 7, 2020, sr-Latn, August 9, 2020,rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a617478/Protest-in-front-of-Serbian-parliament-over-announced-curfew.html," title="web.archive.org/web/20200809153251rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a617478/Protest-in-front-of-Serbian-parliament-over-announced-curfew.html,">web.archive.org/web/20200809153251rs.n1info.com/English/NEWS/a617478/Protest-in-front-of-Serbian-parliament-over-announced-curfew.html, dead,
• July 8 – At least 180 bodies are found in mass graves in Djibo, Burkina Faso, where soldiers are fighting jihadists. It is suspected that government forces were involved in mass extrajudicial executions.NEWS, July 8, 2020, ‘Killing field’ had 180 bodies in Burkina Faso, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53333366, July 11, 2020, July 11, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200711041254/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53333366, live,
• July 10
  • The ECB accepts Bulgaria and Croatia into ERM II, a mandatory stage for countries wishing to adopt the euro. This is the currency union’s first major expansion in half a decade.NEWS, July 10, 2020, Bulgaria, Croatia take vital step to joining euro, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-eurozone-economy-croatia-bulgaria-idUSKBN24B2JM, July 11, 2020, January 2, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210102141348/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eurozone-economy-croatia-bulgaria-idUSKBN24B2JM, live,
  • Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan orders the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul to be reverted to a mosque following a supreme court annulment of a 1934 presidential decree that made it into a museum.NEWS,www.cnn.com/2020/07/10/europe/hagia-sophia-mosque-turkey-intl/index.html, CNN, Turkey’s Erdogan orders the conversion of Hagia Sophia back into a mosque, July 10, 2020, July 11, 2020, July 11, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200711002733/https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/10/europe/hagia-sophia-mosque-turkey-intl/index.html, live,
  • The 2020 Singaporean general election is held to elect all 93 members of the Parliament of Singapore and the People’s Action Party, led by prime minister Lee Hsien Loong wins 83 out of 93 seats.WEB, ELD {{!, 2020 Parliamentary General Election Results |url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/finalresults2020.html |access-date=March 29, 2022 |website=www.eld.gov.sg |archive-date=July 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710211514www.eld.gov.sg/finalresults2020.html |url-status=live }}NEWS, July 10, 2020, Singapore ruling PAP party wins elections, but support falls, en-GB, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53358650, March 29, 2022, July 10, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200710033634/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-53358650, live, NEWS, July 10, 2020, Singapore’s ruling PAP cedes ground to opposition in pandemic poll, en, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-singapore-election-idCAKBN24A3A3, March 29, 2022, March 29, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220329144053/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-singapore-election-idCAKBN24A3A3, live,
• July 12 – The second round of voting for the 2020 Polish presidential election is held and incumbent president Andrzej Duda is reelected.WEB, Chadwick, Lauren, July 13, 2020, Five takeaways from the Polish presidential election,www.euronews.com/my-europe/2020/07/13/five-takeaways-from-the-polish-presidential-election, March 29, 2022, euronews, en, March 29, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220329150824/https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2020/07/13/five-takeaways-from-the-polish-presidential-election, live, NEWS, July 13, 2020, Poland’s Duda narrowly beats Trzaskowski in presidential vote, en-GB, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53385021, March 29, 2022, July 13, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200713013502/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53385021, live, WEB, July 13, 2020, Duda narrowly re-elected in Poland in boost for ruling nationalists,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/13/incumbent-andrzej-duda-wins-polish-presidential-election-commission, March 29, 2022, The Guardian, en, March 29, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220329151327/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/13/incumbent-andrzej-duda-wins-polish-presidential-election-commission, live,
• July 15 – The Twitter accounts of prominent political figures, CEOs, and celebrities are hacked to promote a bitcoin scam.WEB, Major US Twitter accounts hacked in Bitcoin scam,www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-53425822, bbc.co.uk, July 16, 2020, July 16, 2020, July 16, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200716192632/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-53425822, live,
• July 19 – Flooding of the Brahmaputra River kills 189 and leaves 4 million homeless in India and Nepal.NEWS, Floods in India, Nepal displace nearly 4 million people, at least 189 dead {{!, India News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/floods-in-india-nepal-displace-nearly-4-million-people-at-least-189-dead/articleshow/77054083.cms |website=The Times of India |date=July 19, 2020 |agency=Reuters |access-date=July 19, 2020 |archive-date=July 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722232655timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/floods-in-india-nepal-displace-nearly-4-million-people-at-least-189-dead/articleshow/77054083.cms |url-status=live }}
• July 21 – COVID-19 pandemic: European leaders agree to create a €750 billion (US$858 billion) recovery fund to rebuild EU economies impacted by the pandemic.WEB, EU leaders strike ‘historic’ $2 trillion deal to rebuild Europe’s economy,edition.cnn.com/2020/07/21/economy/eu-stimulus-coronavirus/index.html, CNN, July 21, 2020, July 21, 2020, July 21, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200721055127/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/21/economy/eu-stimulus-coronavirus/index.html, live,
• July 22 – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 15 million worldwide.WEB, Global coronavirus cases exceed 15 million: Reuters tally,www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-global-cases/global-coronavirus-cases-exceed-15-million-reuters-tally-idUSKCN24N0KK, Reuters, July 22, 2020, July 22, 2020, July 22, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200722062638/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-global-cases/global-coronavirus-cases-exceed-15-million-reuters-tally-idUSKCN24N0KK, live,
• July 25 – COVID-19 pandemic: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un convenes an emergency meeting, declares a state of emergency, and orders the lockdown of Kaesong after a person suspected of having COVID-19 returned from South Korea. If confirmed, it would be the first case to be officially acknowledged by North Korea.NEWS, July 26, 2020, North Korea declares emergency in border town over first suspected COVID-19 case, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-northkorea-idUSKCN24Q0TC, July 26, 2020, July 26, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200726000626/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-northkorea-idUSKCN24Q0TC, live,
• 28 July – Former Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak is found guilty of all seven charges in the first of five trials on the 1MDB scandal, being jailed 12 years and fined RM210 million as a result.NEWS, Anand, Ram, Ex-Malaysian PM Najib gets 12 years’ jail in 1MDB-linked graft trial,www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/ex-malaysian-pm-najib-found-guilty-on-one-count-of-abuse-of-power-in-1mdb-linked-graft, The Straits Times, August 8, 2020, July 28, 2020, July 28, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200728034712/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/ex-malaysian-pm-najib-found-guilty-on-one-count-of-abuse-of-power-in-1mdb-linked-graft, live,
• July 30 – NASA successfully launches its Mars 2020 rover mission to search for signs of ancient life and collect samples for return to Earth. The mission includes technology demonstrations to prepare for future human missions.WEB, NASA, ULA Launch Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Mission to Red Planet,www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-ula-launch-mars-2020-perseverance-rover-mission-to-red-planet, NASA, July 30, 2020, July 30, 2020, August 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200803160858/https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-ula-launch-mars-2020-perseverance-rover-mission-to-red-planet/, live,

August

• August 1 – The Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE becomes operational following delays since 2017. It is the first commercial nuclear power station in the Arab world.NEWS, August 2, 2020, Barakah: UAE starts up Arab world’s first nuclear plant, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53619916, September 5, 2020, August 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200803084313/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53619916, live,
• August 2 – COVID-19 pandemic: In rare talks, Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hold a video call to discuss various regional issues, including combating COVID-19 in their respective countries.WEB, In rare talks, Iran and UAE foreign ministers discuss COVID-19,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/rare-talks-iran-uae-foreign-ministers-discuss-covid-19-200802174815468.html, August 5, 2020, aljazeera.com, August 4, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200804022417/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/rare-talks-iran-uae-foreign-ministers-discuss-covid-19-200802174815468.html, live,
• August 4 – An explosion caused by unsafely stored ammonium nitrate kills at least 218 people, injures thousands, and severely damages the port in Beirut, Lebanon. Damage is estimated at $10–15 billion, and an estimated 300,000 people are left homeless. The following day, the Lebanese government declares a two-week state of emergency.WEB, Beirut blast: Explosion rocks city injuring many and made over 300,000 people homeless,www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53656220, BBC, August 4, 2020, August 4, 2020, August 8, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200808173704/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53656220, live, NEWS, Sullivan, Oliver Holmes (now); Helen, Ratcliffe (earlier), Rebecca, Holmes, Oliver, Elgot, Jessica, Borger, Julian, Blackall, Molly, Bramley, Ellie Violet, August 5, 2020, Beirut explosion: death toll rises to 135 as about 5,000 people are wounded – as it happened, The Guardian,www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/aug/04/beirut-explosion-huge-blast-port-lebanon-capital, August 5, 2020, 0261-3077, August 4, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200804201541/https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/aug/04/beirut-explosion-huge-blast-port-lebanon-capital, live, WEB, Lebanon gov’t declares emergency in Beirut after deadly explosion,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/lebanon-gov-declares-emergency-beirut-deadly-explosion-200805150901897.html, August 19, 2020, aljazeera.com, September 9, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200909012114/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/lebanon-gov-declares-emergency-beirut-deadly-explosion-200805150901897.html, live,
• August 5 – U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar travels to Taiwan, the highest U.S. official visit to the country in 40 years. The PRC condemns the visit.NEWS, August 5, 2020, U.S. health chief to be highest-ranking official in decades to visit Taiwan, angering China, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-usa-idUSKCN25105B, August 5, 2020, August 5, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200805021726/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-usa-idUSKCN25105B, live,
• August 7 – Air India Express Flight 1344 crashes after overrunning the runway at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, India, killing 19 of the 191 people on board.
• August 9 – A presidential election in Belarus which led to incumbent Alexander Lukashenko’s reelection sparks protests throughout the country after major opposition candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya rejected the results. Seven days later, the largest political march in Belarusian history takes place, with an estimated 300,000 people in Minsk and 200,000 in other Belarusian cities and towns.NEWS, August 16, 2020, Мінск. А вось сколькі людзей прыйшло да Стэлы, каб дамагчыся перагляду вынікаў выбараў. Па адчуванням, Ñ–Ñ… тут разы Ñž чатыры больш, чым было на лукашэнкаўскім мітынгу. То бок, тут ужо 200-300 тысяч чалавек, Ñ– людзі працягваюць падыходзіць!, Telegram,t.me/euroradio/5424, August 22, 2020, September 13, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200913042613/https://t.me/euroradio/5424, live,
• August 10
  • Midwest Derecho: Costliest and one of the strongest thunderstorms in U.S. history.WEB, Kopelman, Rebecca, August 10, 2021, Iowa Derecho is among the strongest in U.S. history,cbs2iowa.com/news/local/iowa-derecho-is-among-the-strongest-in-us-history, August 10, 2021, KGAN, August 10, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210810222027/https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/iowa-derecho-is-among-the-strongest-in-us-history, live, WEB, August 6, 2021, August 10, 2020, Midwest Derecho,storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f98352e2153b4865b99ba53b86021b65, August 10, 2021, ArcGIS StoryMaps, en-us, August 10, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210810100746/https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f98352e2153b4865b99ba53b86021b65, live,
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 20 million worldwide.NEWS, Global report: coronavirus cases pass 20m as WHO points to ‘green shoots of hope’,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/11/global-report-coronavirus-cases-pass-20m-as-who-points-to-green-shoots-of-hope, August 11, 2020, Alison, Rourke, The Guardian, August 11, 2020, August 11, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200811043202/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/11/global-report-coronavirus-cases-pass-20m-as-who-points-to-green-shoots-of-hope, live,
  • The 2020 Trinidad and Tobago general election is held to elect all 41 members of the House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago, the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago and the People’s National Movement party, led by prime minister Keith Rowley won 22 out of 41 seats.WEB,www.ebctt.com/wp-content/uploads/Report-of-the-Elections-Boundaries-Commission-on-the-Parliamentary-Elections-held-on-Monday-10th-August-2020.pdf, Report of the Elections Boundaries Commission on the Parliamentary Elections held on Monday 10th August 2020, April 17, 2022, December 13, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20211213153559/https://www.ebctt.com/wp-content/uploads/Report-of-the-Elections-Boundaries-Commission-on-the-Parliamentary-Elections-held-on-Monday-10th-August-2020.pdf, live, WEB, Trinidad and Tobago: House of Representatives,data.ipu.org/node/175/elections, April 17, 2022, Parline: the IPU’s Open Data Platform, en, NEWS, August 11, 2020, Trinidad and Tobago PM claims election victory for ruling party, en, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-trinidadtobago-election-idUSKCN2570E4, April 17, 2022, April 17, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220417145659/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-trinidadtobago-election-idUSKCN2570E4, live,
• August 11 – COVID-19 pandemic: Russian President Vladimir Putin announces that Russia has approved the world’s first COVID-19 vaccine.NEWS, Coronavirus: Putin says vaccine has been approved for use,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53735718, August 11, 2020, BBC News, August 11, 2020, August 11, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200811110212/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53735718, live,
• August 13 – Israel and the UAE agree to normalise relations, marking the third Israel–Arab peace deal.NEWS, Israel and UAE strike historic deal to normalise relations,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-53770859, August 13, 2020, BBC News, August 13, 2020, November 4, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20211104042342/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-53770859, live,
• August 15 – The Japanese bulk carrier Wakashio, which stranded on a reef in Mauritius last month, breaks in half. Approximately 1,000 tonnes of oil are spilled into the ocean, becoming the largest environmental disaster in the history of Mauritius.NEWS, August 16, 2020, Japanese ship involved in Mauritius oil spill breaks apart, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-mauritius-environment-japan-idUSKCN25B09K, September 5, 2020, September 2, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200902142706/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mauritius-environment-japan-idUSKCN25B09K, live,
• August 18 – A mutiny in a military base by soldiers of the Malian Armed Forces develops into a coup d’état. President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and Prime Minister Boubou Cissé, among other senior governmental and military officers, are arrested. The next day, Keïta announces his resignation on state television.WEB, Gunfire heard at Mali army base, warnings of possible mutiny,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/gunfire-heard-mali-army-base-warnings-mutiny-200818111723901.html, August 18, 2020, aljazeera.com, August 18, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200818190249/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/gunfire-heard-mali-army-base-warnings-mutiny-200818111723901.html, live, NEWS, August 18, 2020, Mali president ‘seized by mutinying soldiers’, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53825673, August 18, 2020, August 18, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200818210145/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53825673/, live, WEB, August 18, 2020, Mali’s president announces resignation after armed mutiny,apnews.com/54737684e3e2a84f9b44656de7343e56, August 19, 2020, AP NEWS, August 18, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200818190257/https://apnews.com/54737684e3e2a84f9b44656de7343e56, live,
• August 19 – The Special Tribunal for Lebanon convicts in absentia Salim Ayyash, a senior member of Hezbollah, for the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.NEWS, Rafik Hariri tribunal: Guilty verdict over assassination of Lebanon ex-PM, BBC News, August 18, 2020,www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53601710, August 18, 2020, February 12, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210212003222/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53601710, live,
• August 22 – COVID-19 pandemic: The worldwide death toll from COVID-19 exceeds 800,000.NEWS, August 22, 2020, Global Death Toll From Virus Surpasses 800,000, The New York Times,www.nytimes.com/2020/08/22/world/covid-19-coronavirus.html, August 24, 2020, 0362-4331, August 23, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200823184407/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/22/world/covid-19-coronavirus.html, live,
• August 23 – Bayern Munich wins the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League by beating Paris Saint-Germain in the final 1–0.NEWS, Bayern beat PSG to win Champions League, BBC Sport,www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53867676, December 3, 2020, September 5, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200905155619/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53867676, live,
• August 25 – Africa is declared free of wild polio, the second virus to be eradicated from the continent since smallpox 40 years previously.NEWS, Africa declared free of wild polio in ‘milestone’,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53887947, August 25, 2020, BBC News, August 25, 2020, August 25, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200825072202/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53887947, live, NEWS, Africa eradicates wild poliovirus,www.afro.who.int/news/africa-eradicates-wild-poliovirus, August 25, 2020, WHO, August 25, 2020, August 27, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200827024643/https://www.afro.who.int/news/africa-eradicates-wild-poliovirus, live,
• August 26 – Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos becomes the first person in history to have a net worth exceeding US$200 billion, according to Forbes.NEWS,www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanponciano/2020/08/26/worlds-richest-billionaire-jeff-bezos-first-200-billion/43bc304c4db7, Forbes, Jeff Bezos Becomes The First Person Ever Worth $200 Billion, August 26, 2020, August 28, 2020, August 26, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200826221637/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanponciano/2020/08/26/worlds-richest-billionaire-jeff-bezos-first-200-billion/43bc304c4db7, live,
• August 27 – Hurricane Laura makes landfall in Lake Charles, Louisiana with winds of 150 mph, making it the strongest hurricane to ever strike the state in terms of windspeed, tied with the 1856 Last Island Hurricane.NEWS, Jason Hanna, Madeline Holcombe and Theresa Waldrop, Hurricane Laura smashes parts of Louisiana and Texas, killing 6 and leaving widespread wind damage,www.cnn.com/2020/08/27/weather/laura-gulf-coast-weather-forecast-thursday/index.html, December 3, 2020, CNN, December 2, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201202201734/https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/27/weather/laura-gulf-coast-weather-forecast-thursday/index.html, live, WEB, UTC, Bill Karins98d ago / 10:39 AM, Laura strongest hurricane to make landfall in Louisiana in 164 years,www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/blog/hurricane-laura-makes-landfall-category-4-early-thursday-live-updates-n1238373, December 3, 2020, NBC News, August 28, 2020, November 21, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201121011422/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/blog/hurricane-laura-makes-landfall-category-4-early-thursday-live-updates-n1238373, live,
• August 28 – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the longest-serving prime minister in the history of Japan, announces his resignation from office, citing ill health.NEWS, Japan PM Abe announces his resignation at press conference,english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/08/49143d2e31c6-breaking-news-abes-health-status-remains-unchanged-top-govt-spokesman.html, Kyodo News, August 28, 2020, August 28, 2020, August 29, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200829000637/https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/08/49143d2e31c6-breaking-news-abes-health-status-remains-unchanged-top-govt-spokesman.html, live,
• August 30 – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 25 million worldwide. India continues to record the highest daily increase of cases.NEWS, Dellanna, Alessio, Coronavirus: Global cases pass 25 million as India records record spike,www.euronews.com/2020/08/30/coronavirus-india-reports-worst-single-day-spike-in-the-world-with-over-78-000-new-cases, September 1, 2020, Euronews, August 30, 2020, August 31, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200831081743/https://www.euronews.com/2020/08/30/coronavirus-india-reports-worst-single-day-spike-in-the-world-with-over-78-000-new-cases, live,

September

• September 3
  • Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and Abdelaziz al-Hilu, the leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM–N), sign an agreement to transition the country into a secular state. The agreement comes three days after the signing of a peace deal between Sudan’s transitional government and the Sudan Revolutionary Front, which the SPLM–N opted out of. Weeks later on October 3, the transitional government signed a peace deal with the main rebel groups, including the SPLM–N, which had refused to engage in previous talks.WEB, Sudan, major rebel group agree to resume peace talks,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/sudan-major-rebel-group-agree-resume-peace-talks-200904132258379.html, September 5, 2020, www.aljazeera.com, September 4, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200904155424/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/sudan-major-rebel-group-agree-resume-peace-talks-200904132258379.html, live, NEWS, Dumo, Denis, October 3, 2020, Sudan and main rebel groups formalise peace deal, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-politics-idUSKBN26N3MO, October 3, 2020, October 3, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201003125656/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sudan-politics-idUSKBN26N3MO, live,
  • The skeletons of 200 mammoths and 30 other animals are unearthed at a construction site for the Mexico City Santa Lucía Airport. It is the largest find of mammoth bones to date, surpassing The Mammoth Site in the U.S. which had 61 skeletons.WEB, September 4, 2020, At least 200 mammoth skeletons found at Mexico City airport construction site,www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-09-04/mammoth-central-found-at-mexico-airport-construction-site, September 5, 2020, Los Angeles Times, October 12, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201012104629/https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-09-04/mammoth-central-found-at-mexico-airport-construction-site, live,
• September 4
  • Pope Benedict XVI becomes the longest-lived pope at 93 years, 4 months, and 16 days, surpassing Pope Leo XIII, who died in 1903.WEB, Benedicto XVI es ya el papa más anciano de toda la historia,www.msn.com/es-mx/news/other/benedicto-xvi-es-ya-el-papa-m%C3%A1s-anciano-de-toda-la-historia/ar-BB18IsG8?ocid=msedgdhp, www.msn.com, DW News, September 3, 2020, es, September 13, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200913061012/https://www.msn.com/es-mx/news/other/benedicto-xvi-es-ya-el-papa-m%C3%A1s-anciano-de-toda-la-historia/ar-BB18IsG8?ocid=msedgdhp, live,
  • The La Línea highway tunnel, the longest road tunnel in South America at a length of 8.65 kilometres (5.37 mi), is opened in Colombia after 14 years of construction and several delays.NEWS, September 5, 2020, Colombia opens South America’s longest road tunnel, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-tunnel-idUSKBN25V2QT, September 5, 2020, September 5, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200905030344/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-colombia-tunnel-idUSKBN25V2QT, live,
  • Kosovo and Serbia announce that they will normalize economic relations. The two countries will also move their Israeli embassies to Jerusalem, becoming the third and fourth countries to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.WEB, Agencies, September 4, 2020, Kosovo, Serbia normalize economic ties, improve Israel relationship in US-brokered talks,www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/kosovo-serbia-normalize-economic-ties-improve-israel-relationship-in-us-brokered-talks, September 5, 2020, Daily Sabah, September 13, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200913055406/https://www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/kosovo-serbia-normalize-economic-ties-improve-israel-relationship-in-us-brokered-talks, live, NEWS, September 4, 2020, Serbia, Kosovo to open Israel embassies in Jerusalem, Reuters,www.reuters.com/article/us-serbia-kosovo-usa-jerusalem-idUSKBN25V2GF, September 5, 2020, September 5, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200905043951/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-serbia-kosovo-usa-jerusalem-idUSKBN25V2GF, live,
  • Bahrain and Israel agree to normalise relations, marking the fourth Israel–Arab peace deal.NEWS, December 16, 2018, Bahrain foreign minister defends Australia’s decision on Jerusalem, Reuters,af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKBN1OF09G,web.archive.org/web/20190213014745/https://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFKBN1OF09G, February 13, 2019, December 10, 2019,
• September 6 – Typhoon Haishen makes landfall on Japan and then South Korea as a strong category 2-equivalent typhoon.WEB,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-54046150, Typhoon Haishen batters South Korea after slamming Japan, September 7, 2020, BBC News, October 11, 2020, January 18, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210118005010/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-54046150, live, It later makes landfall on North Korea where widespread flooding occurs.NEWS, North Korea dispatches troops to rebuild after Typhoon Haishen,asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Natural-disasters/North-Korea-dispatches-troops-to-rebuild-after-Typhoon-Haishen, September 8, 2020, Nikkei Asian Review, September 8, 2020, September 8, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200908115710/https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Natural-disasters/North-Korea-dispatches-troops-to-rebuild-after-Typhoon-Haishen, live,
• September 14
  • Former Prime Minister of Malaysia Najib Razak is listed on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) online database of corruption offenders convicted locally. His name at the top of the first page of the MACC Corruption Offenders Database.WEB, Lim, Ida, September 14, 2020, Najib makes MACC’s online list of corruption offenders after SRC conviction,www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/14/najib-makes-maccs-list-of-corruption-offenders-database-online-after-src-co/1903064, www.malaymail.com, en, May 31, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220531035452/https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/09/14/najib-makes-maccs-list-of-corruption-offenders-database-online-after-src-co/1903064, live,
  • The Royal Astronomical Society announces the detection of phosphine in Venus’ atmosphere, which is known to be a strong predictor for the presence of microbial life.WEB, Hints of life on Venus,ras.ac.uk/news-and-press/news/hints-life-venus, September 14, 2020, The Royal Astronomical Society, September 15, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200915210324/https://ras.ac.uk/news-and-press/news/hints-life-venus, live,
  • The first discovery of the perfectly preserved remains of a cave bear, believed to be 22,000 to 39,500 years old (Late Pleistocene), is made in Lyakhovsky Islands, Siberia in the thawing permafrost.WEB, September 14, 2020, Perfectly preserved Ice Age cave bear found in Arctic Russia,apnews.com/article/bears-arctic-caves-archive-russia-577b29734cb7ce40518eac6a5303cfb4, September 24, 2020, AP NEWS, September 24, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200924225702/https://apnews.com/article/bears-arctic-caves-archive-russia-577b29734cb7ce40518eac6a5303cfb4, live,
• September 16
  • A United Nations Human Rights Council fact-finding mission formally accuses the Venezuelan government of crimes against humanity, including cases of killings, torture, violence against political opposition and disappearances since 2014. President Nicolás Maduro and other senior Venezuelan officials are among those implicated in the charges.NEWS, September 16, 2020, Venezuela: UN investigators accuse authorities of crimes against humanity, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-54176927, September 22, 2020, September 24, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200924201326/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-54176927, live,
  • Yoshihide Suga becomes the new Prime Minister of Japan, replacing Shinzo Abe.NEWS, September 16, 2020, Yoshihide Suga elected Japan’s new prime minister succeeding Shinzo Abe, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54172461, October 10, 2020, October 28, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20211028113620/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54172461, live,
  • Hurricane Sally makes landfall on the Alabama coast as a high-end Category 2 hurricane, causing over $8 billion in damages and killing 8 people.
• September 17
  • France, Germany, and the United Kingdom issue a joint note verbale to the United Nations rejecting China’s claims to the South China Sea, and supporting the ruling in Philippines v. China that said the historic rights per the nine-dash line ran counter to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. However, the statement says that on “territorial sovereignty” they “take no position”.WEB, France, Germany, UK recognize PH win vs. China in South China Sea row,www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/9/18/France-Germany-United-Kingdom-reject-China-South-China-Sea.html, September 22, 2020, cnn, April 6, 2022,web.archive.org/web/20220406032453/https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/9/18/France-Germany-United-Kingdom-reject-China-South-China-Sea.html, dead,
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 30 million worldwide.WEB, September 17, 2020, Coronavirus cases top 30 million worldwide,medicalxpress.com/news/2020-09-coronavirus-cases-million-worldwide.html, November 7, 2020, Medical Xpress, November 5, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201105111119/https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-09-coronavirus-cases-million-worldwide.html, live,
• September 19 – A 1634 edition of The Two Noble Kinsmen, the last play by English playwright William Shakespeare, is discovered at the Royal Scots College’s library in Salamanca, Spain. It is believed to be the oldest copy of any of his works in the country.NEWS, Alderson, Reevel, September 19, 2020, Shakespeare play found in Scots college in Spain, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-54209767, September 22, 2020, January 1, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210101034733/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-54209767, live,
• September 20 – BuzzFeed News and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) release the FinCEN Files, a collection of 2,657 documents relating to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network describing over 200,000 suspicious transactions valued at over {{US$|2|link=yes}} trillion that occurred from 1999 to 2017 across multiple global financial institutions.WEB, September 19, 2020, About the FinCEN Files investigation,www.icij.org/investigations/fincen-files/about-the-fincen-files-investigation/, September 20, 2020, ICIJ, September 22, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200922120559/https://www.icij.org/investigations/fincen-files/about-the-fincen-files-investigation/, live,
• September 21 – Microsoft agrees to buy video game holding company ZeniMax Media, including Bethesda Softworks and their following subsidiaries for US$7.5 billion, in what was the biggest and most expensive takeover in the history of the video game industry.NEWS, September 21, 2020, Microsoft to Buy Bethesda for $7.5 Billion to Boost Xbox,www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-21/microsoft-to-buy-bethesda-studios-for-7-5-billion-to-boost-xbox, September 22, 2020, Bloomberg.com, May 3, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210503195044/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-21/microsoft-to-buy-bethesda-studios-for-7-5-billion-to-boost-xbox, live,
• September 27 – Beginning of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War: deadly clashes erupt in Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces. Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Republic of Artsakh introduce martial law and mobilize forces.WEB,www.reuters.com/article/armenia-azerbaijan-curfew/azerbaijans-parliament-approves-martial-law-curfews-presidents-aide-idINKBN26I0OU, Azerbaijan’s parliament approves martial law, curfews – president’s aide, Reuters, September 27, 2020, September 27, 2020, September 28, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200928062034/https://www.reuters.com/article/armenia-azerbaijan-curfew/azerbaijans-parliament-approves-martial-law-curfews-presidents-aide-idINKBN26I0OU, live,
• September 29
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The worldwide death toll from COVID-19 exceeds one million.NEWS, September 29, 2020, Coronavirus: Global Covid-19 death toll passes one million, BBC News,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-54334496, September 29, 2020, September 29, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200929012202/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-54334496, live,
  • The Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Sabah dies at the age of 91. Crown Prince Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is named his successor.NEWS, September 29, 2020, Kuwait Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Sabah dies aged 91, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-54340988, September 29, 2020, September 29, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20200929152357/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-54340988, live, NEWS, September 29, 2020, Kuwait names Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah as new emir, Al Arabiya,english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2020/09/29/Kuwait-names-Crown-Prince-Sheikh-Nawaf-al-Ahmad-al-Sabah-as-new-emir, September 29, 2020, January 1, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210101014223/https://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/gulf/2020/09/29/Kuwait-names-Crown-Prince-Sheikh-Nawaf-al-Ahmad-al-Sabah-as-new-emir, live,

October

• October 1 – The EU began legal proceedings against the UK after it ignored their deadline to drop controversial sections from its internal market Bill.NEWS,www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54370226, Brexit: EU starts legal action against UK over Brexit deal, BBC News, October 1, 2020, October 1, 2020, October 1, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201001094518/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54370226, live,

• October 5 – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 35 million worldwide. The news coincides with the World Health Organization estimating that total worldwide cases may be around 760 million; roughly a tenth of the global population.WEB,www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/10/pandemic-tops-35-million-cases-disrupts-mental-health-services, Pandemic tops 35 million cases, disrupts mental health services, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, CIDRAP, October 5, 2020, November 7, 2020, Schnirring, Lisa, October 24, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201024075901/https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/10/pandemic-tops-35-million-cases-disrupts-mental-health-services, live, WEB,www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-10-05/who-estimates-coronavirus-has-infected-10-of-global-population, WHO Estimates Coronavirus Has Infected 10% of Global Population, U.S. News & World Report, October 5, 2020, November 7, 2020, Smith-Schoenwalder, Cecelia, November 5, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201105071916/https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-10-05/who-estimates-coronavirus-has-infected-10-of-global-population, live,
• October 15
  • 2020 Thai protests: The Government of Thailand declares a “severe” state of emergency banning gatherings of five or more people, initiating a crackdown on demonstrations and imposing media censorship.NEWS, Twenty protesters arrested, planned Thursday rally prohibited,www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/politics/2002603/twenty-protesters-arrested-planned-thursday-rally-prohibited, October 15, 2020, Bangkok Post,
  • President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov resigns from office after weeks of massive protests in the wake of the October 2020 parliamentary election; opposition leader Sadyr Japarov assumes office as both the acting president and Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan.NEWS, Merz, Theo, October 16, 2020, Ex-prisoner Sadyr Japarov confirmed as Kyrgyzstan president, The Guardian,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/16/kyrgyzstan-parliament-confirms-sadyr-japarov-new-president, October 18, 2020, November 1, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201101094625/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/16/kyrgyzstan-parliament-confirms-sadyr-japarov-new-president, live,
• October 17 – 2020 New Zealand general election: Jacinda Ardern’s Labour Party wins a landslide second term in office, defeating the National Party led by Judith Collins and gaining the country’s first parliamentary majority since the introduction of the MMP voting system.NEWS,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-54519628, Jacinda Ardern eyes majority as New Zealand votes, BBC News, October 17, 2020, October 17, 2020, October 17, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201017194659/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-54519628, live,
• October 19 – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 40 million worldwide.WEB,www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/10/worlds-covid-19-cases-top-40-million, World’s COVID-19 cases top 40 million, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, CIDRAP, October 19, 2020, November 7, 2020, Schnirring, Lisa, November 6, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201106135214/https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/10/worlds-covid-19-cases-top-40-million, live,
• October 20 – NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft briefly touches down on Bennu, becoming the agency’s first probe to retrieve samples from an asteroid, with its cargo due for return to Earth in 2023.NEWS,www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-osiris-rex-spacecraft-successfully-touches-asteroid, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Spacecraft Successfully Touches Asteroid, NASA, October 20, 2020, October 21, 2020, October 21, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201021083559/https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-osiris-rex-spacecraft-successfully-touches-asteroid/, live,
• October 21 – Heavy rains brought by tropical storm Linfa caused landslides at the Rao Trang 3 hydroelectric plant in Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam, killing 17 construction workers and 13 soldiers who were on a rescue mission.NEWS,vietnamnews.vn/society/793550/rescue-forces-find-body-of-worker-at-rao-trang-hydro-power-plant.html, Rescue forces find body of worker at Rào Trăng Hydro-power Plant, October 16, 2020, Viet Nam News, June 1, 2021, June 2, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210602215231/https://vietnamnews.vn/society/793550/rescue-forces-find-body-of-worker-at-rao-trang-hydro-power-plant.html, live, NEWS,www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/heavy-rains-flooding-kill-least-17-people-central-vietnam, Heavy Rains, Flooding Kill at Least 17 People in Central Vietnam, October 12, 2020, VOA, June 1, 2021, June 2, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210602215453/https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/heavy-rains-flooding-kill-least-17-people-central-vietnam, live,
• October 22 – The Geneva Consensus Declaration on Promoting Women’s Health and Strengthening the Family is signed by government representatives from 34 countries.NEWS,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/22/us-trump-administration-signs-anti-abortion-declaration, US signs anti-abortion declaration with group of largely authoritarian governments, October 22, 2020, The Guardian, October 24, 2020, December 24, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20211224154848/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/22/us-trump-administration-signs-anti-abortion-declaration, live,
• October 23
  • At the end of an 11-year demining process, the Falkland Islands are declared free of land mines, 38 years after the end of the 1982 war.NEWS,penguin-news.com/headlines/community/2020/falklands-community-invited-to-reclaim-the-beach-to-celebrate-completion-of-demining/, Falklands community invited to ‘Reclaim the Beach’ to celebrate completion of demining, October 23, 2020, Penguin News, November 8, 2020, October 27, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201027070620/https://penguin-news.com/headlines/community/2020/falklands-community-invited-to-reclaim-the-beach-to-celebrate-completion-of-demining/, live,
  • Israel and Sudan agree to normalise relations, marking the fifth Israel–Arab peace deal.NEWS,www.cnn.com/2020/10/23/politics/trump-sudan-israel/index.html, Trump announces that Israel and Sudan have agreed to normalize relations, October 23, 2020, Jennifer Hansler, CNN, October 23, 2020, November 15, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201115061438/https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/23/politics/trump-sudan-israel/index.html, live, NEWS, Trump Announces Sudan Will Move to Normalize Relations With Israel,www.nytimes.com/2020/10/23/world/middleeast/sudan-israel-trump-terrorism.html, NYT, October 23, 2020, October 23, 2020, November 15, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201115061351/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/23/world/middleeast/sudan-israel-trump-terrorism.html, live,
• October 26 – NASA confirms the existence of molecular water on the sunlit side of the Moon, near Clavius crater, at concentrations of up to 412 parts per million.NEWS,www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-sofia-discovers-water-on-sunlit-surface-of-moon/, NASA’s SOFIA Discovers Water on Sunlit Surface of Moon, October 26, 2020, October 27, 2020, NASA,
• October 29 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirms the death of at least 140 migrants who drowned off the coast of Senegal on a vessel bound for the Spanish Canary Islands. It is the deadliest shipwreck of 2020 so far.WEB, October 29, 2020, 2020’s deadliest shipwreck so far, sees 140 migrants perish off Senegalese coast,news.un.org/en/story/2020/10/1076512, November 23, 2020, UN News,
• October 30
  • 2020 Aegean Sea earthquake: A magnitude 7.0 earthquake hits Turkey and Greece, killing 119 people and injuring over 1,000.NEWS,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-54759443, Turkey-Greece quake: Search for survivors under rubble, October 31, 2020, October 31, 2020, BBC News, NEWS,edition.cnn.com/2020/10/30/europe/earthquake-greece-turkey-aegean-intl/index.html, Powerful earthquake jolts Turkey and Greece, killing at least 27, October 31, 2020, October 31, 2020, CNN,
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 45 million worldwide.WEB,www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/10/who-extends-covid-19-emergency-global-total-tops-45-million, WHO extends COVID-19 emergency as global total tops 45 million, Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, CIDRAP, October 30, 2020, November 7, 2020, Schnirring, Lisa,
• October 31 – Typhoon Goni makes landfall in the Philippines, becoming the strongest landfalling tropical cyclone in history, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and killing dozens of people in the region.NEWS,weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2020-10-31-super-typhoon-goni-philippines-vietnam-haiyan, Super Typhoon Goni Kills 10 in the Philippines, October 31, 2020, November 3, 2020, Weather.com,

November

• November 1 – 2020 Moldovan presidential election: Former Prime Minister and Minister of Education Maia Sandu is elected as the 6th President of Moldova, becoming the first woman to ever hold the post.WEB,balkaninsight.com/2020/03/19/rule-of-law-problems-undermine-moldovas-economy-imf/, Rule-of-Law Problems Undermine Moldova’s Economy: IMF, Balkan Insight, March 19, 2020, NecÈ™uÈ›u, Mădălin,
• November 3 – November 4
  • 2020 United States presidential election: The election of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States is called by many news media organizations after remaining vote counts (November 7) come in from key states delayed by an influx of mail-in ballots caused by the pandemic, defeating incumbent President Donald Trump.NEWS,edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-biden-election-results-11-07-20/index.html, Joe Biden elected president, CNN, November 7, 2020, November 7, 2020, NEWS,www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-us-2020-54836636, US Election 2020: Joe Biden wins the presidency, BBC News, November 7, 2020, November 7, 2020,
  • 2020 United States Senate elections take place, ending in an overall success for the Democratic party.NEWS, Georgia Highlights: Democrats Capture the Senate as Ossoff Defeats Perdue,www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01/06/us/georgia-election-results, subscription, January 10, 2021, The New York Times, January 6, 2021,
  • The United States formally exits the Paris Agreement on climate change.NEWS,www.npr.org/2020/11/03/930312701/u-s-officially-leaving-paris-climate-agreement?t=1604493348832, U.S. Officially Leaving Paris Climate Agreement, NPR, November 3, 2020, November 4, 2020,
  • Beginning of the Tigray War: Ethiopia launches an offensive in Tigray following an attack on Ethiopian military bases by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.WEB, Welle (www.dw.com), Deutsche, Ethiopia: A timeline of the Tigray crisis {{!, DW {{!}} 17 November 2020|url=https://www.dw.com/en/ethiopia-a-timeline-of-the-tigray-crisis/a-55632181|access-date=December 30, 2020|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB|archive-date=December 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207144929www.dw.com/en/ethiopia-a-timeline-of-the-tigray-crisis/a-55632181|url-status=live}}
• November 7 – Hurricane Eta makes landfall in Nicaragua, killing over 100 people in Central America as a category 4.NEWS, November 7, 2020, Storm Eta death toll rises to 100 after devastating mudslides, The Guardian, Reuters, Guatemala,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/06/storm-eta-death-toll-rises-as-torrential-rains-trigger-mudslides,
• November 8 – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 50 million worldwide.NEWS,www.bbc.com/news/world-54867793, Covid-19: Global coronavirus cases pass 50 million, BBC News, November 8, 2020, November 8, 2020,
• November 9
  • Second Nagorno-Karabakh War: Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia sign a ceasefire agreement, formally ending the war.NEWS, 10 November 2020, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia sign Nagorno-Karabakh peace deal, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54882564, 10 November 2020,
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The first successful phase III trial of a COVID-19 vaccine is announced by drug companies Pfizer and BioNTech, which is 90% effective according to interim results.NEWS,www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54873105, BBC News, Covid vaccine: First vaccine offers 90% protection, November 9, 2020, November 9, 2020,
• November 10 – Apple releases the first Mac computers (a new MacBook Air, Mac mini and MacBook Pro) powered by Apple silicon chips.WEB, Apple Events - November 2020,www.apple.com/apple-events/november-2020/, July 22, 2021, Apple, en-US,
• November 11 – COVID-19 pandemic: The Sputnik V vaccine is proven to be 92% effective against COVID-19 according to interim results.WEB, Ivanova, Polina, Russia says its Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine is 92% effective,www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-russia-vaccine-idUSKBN27R0ZA, Reuters, November 16, 2020, November 11, 2020,
• November 12 – 13
  • Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmakers resign en masse, in response to four lawmakers’ disqualification made by the government.NEWS, Pro-Democracy Hong Kong Lawmakers Resign en Masse After 4 Disqualified,time.com/5910484/hong-kong-disqualifies-lawmakers/,web.archive.org/web/20201111080716/https://time.com/5910484/hong-kong-disqualifies-lawmakers/, November 11, 2020, November 12, 2020, Times,
  • Typhoon Vamco makes landfall in Vietnam, after crossing the Philippines and killing at least 69 people. The storm causes the worst floods in the region since Typhoon Ketsana in 2009.WEB, Ropero, Gillan, November 14, 2020, Typhoon Ulysses deaths climb to 67: disaster council,news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/15/20/typhoon-ulysses-deaths-climb-to-37-disaster-council, November 15, 2020, ABS-CBN News, en, PAGASA, November 11, 2020, Ulysses, Vamco, swb, 18, TY,pubfiles.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/tamss/weather/bulletin_ulysses.pdf, live, 2020-11-08,web.archive.org/web/20201108153708/https://pubfiles.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/tamss/weather/bulletin_ulysses.pdf, Alt URL
  • Western Sahara conflict: fighting erupts between Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic when Moroccan forces launch a military operation to capture the town of Guerguerat, located in a UN-monitored buffer zone.WEB, Lederer, Edith M., 13 November 2020, Morocco launches military operation in Western Sahara,apnews.com/article/mauritania-morocco-armed-forces-blockades-western-sahara-32f10d1e9724668175eede89033fe7cf, live,web.archive.org/web/20201114141324/https://apnews.com/article/mauritania-morocco-armed-forces-blockades-western-sahara-32f10d1e9724668175eede89033fe7cf, 14 November 2020, Associated Press, en, WEB, Dahir, Abdi Latif, 13 November 2020, Morocco Launches Military Operation in Western Sahara Buffer Zone,www.nytimes.com/2020/11/13/world/middleeast/morocco-military-operation-western-sahara.html, live,web.archive.org/web/20201118002603/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/13/world/middleeast/morocco-military-operation-western-sahara.html, 18 November 2020, 17 November 2020, The New York Times,
• November 15
  • The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is signed by 15 Asia-Pacific countries to form the world’s largest free-trade bloc, covering a third of the world’s population.NEWS, Asia-Pacific countries sign one of the largest free trade deals in history,www.ft.com/content/2dff91bd-ceeb-4567-9f9f-c50b7876adce,ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/2dff91bd-ceeb-4567-9f9f-c50b7876adce, December 10, 2022, subscription, November 15, 2020, The Financial Times, November 15, 2020, Harding, Robin, Reed, John,
  • NASA and SpaceX launch the SpaceX Crew-1 mission from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A to the ISS, the first operational flight of the Crew Dragon capsule.WEB, Heiney, Anna, August 14, 2020, NASA, SpaceX Targeting October for Next Astronaut Launch,blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2020/08/14/nasa-spacex-targeting-october-for-next-astronaut-launch/, August 14, 2020, NASA,
  • Lewis Hamilton wins his seventh Formula One World Drivers’ Championship at the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix, equalling the record set by Michael Schumacher in 2004.
• November 16
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is proven to be 94.5% effective against COVID-19 based on interim results, including severe illnesses. The vaccine has been cited as being among those that are easier to distribute as no ultra-cold storage is required.WEB, Moderna says its vaccine is 94.5% effective in preventing COVID-19,www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/moderna-vaccine-effective-covid-19-prevention-13569860, CNA, November 16, 2020, November 16, 2020,
  • Hurricane Iota makes landfall in Nicaragua as a Category 4 hurricane just two weeks after Hurricane Eta made landfall, devastating the same areas.NEWS,www.cnn.com/videos/weather/2020/11/17/hurricane-iota-landfall-update-flash-flooding-rainfall-landslides-storm-surge-high-winds-category-4.cnn, Hurricane Iota makes landfall in Nicaragua as Category 4 major hurricane, CNN,
• November 17 – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 55 million worldwide, with around a million cases recorded every two days on average.NEWS, Schirring, Lisa, US COVID-19 surge triggers flurry of new response steps,www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/11/us-covid-19-surge-triggers-flurry-new-response-steps, CIDRAP, November 17, 2020, November 18, 2020,
• November 18 – COVID-19 pandemic: Pfizer and BioNTech complete trials on their COVID-19 vaccine, with an overall effectiveness rate of 95% without adverse events.WEB, Fox, Maggie, Sealy, Amanda, Pfizer and BioNTech say final analysis shows coronavirus vaccine is 95% effective with no safety concerns,edition.cnn.com/2020/11/18/health/pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine-safety/index.html, CNN, November 18, 2020, November 18, 2020,
• November 19
  • The Brereton Report into Australian war crimes during the War in Afghanistan is released.WEB, Key findings of the Brereton report into allegations of Australian war crimes in Afghanistan, TheGuardian.com,www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/19/key-findings-of-the-brereton-report-into-allegations-of-australian-war-crimes-in-afghanistan, November 19, 2020, November 23, 2020,
  • Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart wins the 2020 Booker Prize.WEB,www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/19/douglas-stuart-wins-booker-prize-for-debut-shuggie-bain, Douglas Stuart wins Booker prize for debut Shuggie Bain, Flood, Alison, The Guardian, November 20, 2020, November 30, 2020,
  • The PlayStation 5 is released worldwide.WEB, McWhertor, Michael, Carpenter, Nicole, 2020-09-16, PlayStation 5 launches Nov. 12 for $499.99,www.polygon.com/2020/9/16/21323105/ps5-price-playstation-5-release-date-pre-orders, 2023-12-03, Polygon, en-US,
• November 22 – The United States withdraws from the Treaty on Open Skies.WEB, United States formally withdraws from Open Skies treaty,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/22/united-states-formally-withdraws-from-open-skies-treaty, Al-Jazeera, November 23, 2020, November 22, 2020,
• November 23 – COVID-19 pandemic: AstraZeneca’s AZD1222 vaccine, developed in collaboration with Oxford University, is shown to be 70% effective in protecting against COVID-19. The efficacy can be raised to 90% if an initial half dose is followed by a full dose a month later, based on interim data.WEB, Covid-19: Oxford University vaccine is highly effective,www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-55040635, BBC News, November 23, 2020, November 23, 2020, WEB, AZD1222 vaccine met primary efficacy endpoint in preventing COVID-19,www.astrazeneca.com/content/astraz/media-centre/press-releases/2020/azd1222hlr.html, AstraZeneca, November 23, 2020, November 23, 2020,
• November 25 – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 60 million worldwide.WEB, Schirring, Lisa, Pace of global COVID-19 rise slows, but deaths still climbing,www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/11/pace-global-covid-19-rise-slows-deaths-still-climbing, CIDRAP, November 25, 2020, November 26, 2020,
• November 27 – Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, is assassinated near Tehran.WEB, Iran’s top nuclear scientist killed in apparent assassination, state media reports,edition.cnn.com/2020/11/27/middleeast/iran-top-nuclear-scientist-killed-intl/index.html, CNN, November 27, 2020, November 27, 2020, WEB, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Iran’s top nuclear scientist, assassinated near Tehran,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-55105934, BBC News, November 27, 2020, November 27, 2020,
• November 28 – Koshobe massacre: Boko Haram terrorists attack a village in Borno, Nigeria, killing 110 people and wounding 6 people.WEB, Farm workers killed in ‘insane’ Nigeria attack,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-55120638, BBC News, November 29, 2020, November 29, 2020,
• November 30
  • A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs; the last of four lunar eclipses in 2020.WEB, November 30, 2020, Lunar eclipse will be visible during the full beaver moon on November 30, 2020,edition.cnn.com/2020/11/29/world/lunar-eclipse-full-beaver-moon-2020-scn-trnd/index.html, Strickland, Ashley,
  • Protein folding, one of the biggest mysteries in biology,NEWS,www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-55133972, BBC News, One of biology’s biggest mysteries ‘largely solved’ by AI, November 30, 2020, November 30, 2020, is solved by AlphaFold, an artificial intelligence algorithm developed by DeepMind.NEWS,www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/nov/30/deepmind-ai-cracks-50-year-old-problem-of-biology-research, The Guardian, DeepMind AI cracks 50-year-old problem of protein folding, November 30, 2020, November 30, 2020, NEWS,deepmind.com/blog/article/alphafold-a-solution-to-a-50-year-old-grand-challenge-in-biology, DeepMind, AlphaFold: a solution to a 50-year-old grand challenge in biology, November 30, 2020, November 30, 2020,
  • COVID-19 pandemic: Moderna files an application for Emergency Use Authorization in the United States after its vaccine achieved an efficacy of 94.1% from full trials without safety concerns. It also plans to do the same in EU soon.NEWS, Moderna files for US authorisation, will seek EU nod after study shows Covid-19 vaccine 94.1% effective,www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/moderna-to-seek-us-eu-emergency-authorisation-after-covid-19-vaccine-941, The Straits Times, December 8, 2020, November 30, 2020,

December

• December 1
  • COVID-19 pandemic: Pfizer and BioNTech announced an Emergency Use Authorization application to the European Medicines Agency.WEB, Ellyatt, Holly, Pfizer, BioNTech apply for Covid vaccine approval in Europe,www.cnbc.com/2020/12/01/pfizer-biontech-apply-for-coronavirus-vaccine-approval-in-europe.html, CNBC, December 8, 2020, December 1, 2020,
  • The Arecibo Telescope of the Arecibo Observatory collapses, just weeks after the announcement of its planned demolition.NEWS, Ashley Strickland, Arecibo Observatory collapses ahead of planned demolition,www.cnn.com/2020/12/01/world/arecibo-observatory-collapse-scn-trnd/index.html, December 2, 2020, CNN,
• December 2
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The United Kingdom approves Pfizer-BioNTech’s BNT162b2 vaccine, being the first country in the world to do so.NEWS, December 2, 2020, Covid Pfizer vaccine approved for use next week in UK, BBC News,www.bbc.com/news/health-55145696, December 2, 2020,
  • Three activists in Hong Kong were jailed for their roles in the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests, with Joshua Wong getting the heaviest at 13.5 months.WEB, Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong jailed for 13 and a half months for 2019 anti-government protest,www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/hong-kong-activist-joshua-wong-jailed-for-13-and-a-half-months-13684048, CNA, December 8, 2020, December 2, 2020, December 9, 2020,web.archive.org/web/20201209071412/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/hong-kong-activist-joshua-wong-jailed-for-13-and-a-half-months-13684048,
  • The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs votes to remove cannabis from the treaty list of dangerous drugs in recognition of its medical value, although some controls will remain.WEB, Kaur, Harmeet, The UN removes cannabis from a list of the most dangerous substances,edition.cnn.com/2020/12/02/health/un-reclassifies-cannabis-scn-trnd/index.html, CNN, December 3, 2020, December 3, 2020, BOOK,undocs.org/en/E/2020/28/Add.1, Commission on Narcotic Drugs Report on the reconvened sixty-third session (2–4 December 2020) – Economic and Social Council Official Records, 2020 Supplement No. 8A [E/CN.7/2020/15/Add.1], United Nations, 2020, New-York, 5, Decision 63/17: Deletion of cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol, WEB, January 22, 2021, The International Drug Control Conventions Schedules of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol, as at 22 January 2021 [ST/CND/1/Add.1/Rev.7],undocs.org/en/ST/CND/1/Add.1/Rev.7, United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, WEB, December 2, 2020, UN commission reclassifies cannabis, yet still considered harmful,news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1079132, May 26, 2021, UN News, en, NEWS, Kwai, Isabella, December 2, 2020, U.N. Reclassifies Cannabis as a Less Dangerous Drug, en-US, The New York Times,www.nytimes.com/2020/12/02/world/europe/cannabis-united-nations-drug-policy.html, May 26, 2021, 0362-4331,
• December 4
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 65 million worldwide, with the global death toll exceeding 1.5 million. Figures reflect that, in the last week, over 10,000 people worldwide have died on average every day, with one death every nine seconds. According to the World Health Organization, COVID-19 had caused more deaths in 2020 than tuberculosis in 2019, as well as four times the number of deaths than malaria.WEB, Campbell, Lucy, Covid: 1.5 million dead globally as vaccination schemes set to begin,www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/03/covid-15-million-dead-globally-as-vaccination-schemes-set-to-begin, The Guardian, December 4, 2020, December 4, 2020, WEB, Linnane, Ciara, Coronavirus tally: Global cases of COVID-19 top 65 million, U.S. adds 216,548 new cases in a single day,www.marketwatch.com/story/coronavirus-tally-global-cases-of-covid-19-top-65-million-us-adds-216548-new-cases-in-a-single-day-2020-12-04, MarketWatch, December 4, 2020, December 4, 2020,
  • Somali Civil War: The United States announces its withdrawal from the conflict over the next month.WEB,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-55196130, Trump orders withdrawal of US troops from Somalia, BBC, December 5, 2020, December 6, 2020,
• December 5 – COVID-19 pandemic: Russia begins mass vaccination against COVID-19 with the Sputnik V candidate.WEB,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/5/moscow-starts-mass-covid-19-vaccination-with-its-sputnik-v-shot, Al-Jazeera, COVID-19: Moscow starts mass vaccination amid record cases, December 5, 2020, December 6, 2020,
• December 6 – The 2020 Venezuelan parliamentary election takes place.WEB, Venezuela to hold parliamentary elections in December,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/07/venezuela-hold-parliamentary-elections-december-200701060140227.html, July 25, 2020, aljazeera.com,
• December 8
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The United Kingdom becomes the first nation to begin a mass inoculation campaign using a clinically authorised, fully tested vaccine, Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.NEWS,www.nytimes.com/2020/12/07/world/britain-rolls-out-the-pfizer-vaccine-a-huge-task-but-a-sign-of-hope.html, Britain rolls out the Pfizer vaccine, a huge task but a sign of hope., December 8, 2020, December 8, 2020, The New York Times, WEB,uk.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-idUKKBN28I0OM, ‘Go for it,’ says grandmother who got world’s first Pfizer COVID vaccine in Britain, December 8, 2020, December 8, 2020, Reuters, NEWS,www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/coronavirus-news-covid-tier-system-lockdown-new-rules-vaccine/update-20201202-1343, Covid will be with us forever despite Pfizer vaccine, claims Van-Tam, December 8, 2020, December 8, 2020, The Telegraph, Penna, Dominic, Fitzpatrick, John, Margaret Keenan, 90, becomes the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer vaccine after trials.
  • Nepal and China officially agree on Mount Everest’s actual height, which is 8,848.86m.WEB, Singh, Navin Khadka, Mt Everest grows by nearly a metre to new height,www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55218443, BBC, December 8, 2020, December 8, 2020,
• December 10
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The United States and Saudi Arabia approve the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use, while Argentina approves Sputnik V.NEWS,www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/12/10/944813076/fda-advisers-weigh-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine, Harris, Richard, Hensley, Scott, NPR, FDA Panel Recommends COVID-19 Vaccine for Emergency Use, December 10, 2020, December 11, 2020, WEB,www.arabnews.com/node/1775291/saudi-arabia, Radwan, Rawan, Arab News, Saudi Food and Drug Authority approves registration of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, December 10, 2020, December 11, 2020, WEB,www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201210-argentine-president-says-he-ll-get-russia-vaccine-to-dispel-fears, France 24, Argentine president says he’ll get Russia vaccine to dispel fears, December 10, 2020, December 11, 2020,
  • Western Sahara conflict, Arab–Israeli conflict: Israel and Morocco normalise diplomatic relations. Simultaneously, the United States reaffirms its previous recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara and announces plans to build a consulate there.WEB,www.jpost.com/israel-news/israel-morocco-agree-to-normalize-relations-in-latest-us-brokered-deal-651742, Cashman, Greer Fay, Harkov, Lahav, Nahmias, Omri, The Jerusalem Post, Morocco, Israel normalize ties as US recognizes Western Sahara, December 11, 2020, December 11, 2020,
  • The Nicolas Sarkozy corruption trial concludes in France.NEWS, French Court To Rule In Ex-president Sarkozy’s Corruption Trial,www.barrons.com/news/french-court-to-rule-in-ex-president-sarkozy-s-corruption-trial-01607637903?tesla=y, December 11, 2020, www.barrons.com, Agence France-Presse, AFP, December 10, 2020,
• December 11 – The European Union agrees to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% over the next decade.WEB,apnews.com/article/europe-climate-climate-change-paris-summits-3c0ef69599fbf311353657f1ab6e672c, Petrequin, Samuel, Associated Press, EU leaders agree to reduce emissions after all-night talks, December 12, 2020, December 13, 2020,
• December 12
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 70 million worldwide.NEWS, Global Covid-19 cases cross 70 million mark: Johns Hopkins,economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/global-covid-19-cases-cross-70-million-mark-johns-hopkins/articleshow/79690083.cms, The Economic Times, December 12, 2020, December 12, 2020,
  • Bhutan and Israel normalise diplomatic relations.WEB,www.jpost.com/international/israel-normalizes-ties-with-bhutan-651904, Harkov, Lahav, The Jerusalem Post, Israel normalizes ties with Bhutan, December 12, 2020, December 13, 2020,
• December 14
  • COVID-19 pandemic: The United States and Canada begin mass vaccination with the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.WEB,abcnews.go.com/US/us-administer-1st-doses-pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine/story?id=74703018, Pereira, Ivan, ABC News, US administers 1st doses of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, December 15, 2020, December 15, 2020, WEB,www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-canada-vaccine-idINKBN28O17B, Lampert, Allison, Osorio, Carlos, Reuters, Canada turns a corner in pandemic as first COVID-19 vaccines administered, December 14, 2020, December 15, 2020, In addition, Singapore approves the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, with other companies to provide vaccines progressively.WEB, Abdullah, Zhaki, Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine approved by Singapore, first shipment expected by end-December,www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-approves-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-phase-3-13769570, CNA, January 16, 2021, December 14, 2020, February 4, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210204082015/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/singapore-approves-pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine-phase-3-13769570, dead,
  • Sudan–United States relations: The United States removes Sudan from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.WEB,www.reuters.com/article/sudan-usa/u-s-to-remove-sudan-from-terrorism-list-on-monday-embassy-idUSKBN28O0TG?il=0, Abdelaziz, Khalid, United States takes Sudan off terrorism list after 27 years, Reuters, December 14, 2020, December 15, 2020,
  • Turkey–United States relations: The United States places sanctions on Turkey in retaliation for their purchase of a S-400 missile system from Russia, marking the first time they have sanctioned a NATO ally.WEB,apnews.com/article/joe-biden-politics-turkey-ankara-russia-c77d08a1ec06ebb3dae99bb05a67191b, Lee, Matthew, US sanction NATO ally Turkey over Russian missile defense, Associated Press, December 14, 2020, December 16, 2020,
  • A total solar eclipse is visible from parts of the South Pacific Ocean, southern South America, and the South Atlantic Ocean.WEB, Total solar eclipse of 12/14/2020,www.solar-eclipse.info/, July 26, 2020, Solar Eclipse Info,
• December 18
  • Media outlets report that astronomers have detected a radio signal, BLC1, apparently from the direction of Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the Sun. Astronomers have stated that this and other, yet unpublished, signals, are thought to likely be “interference that we cannot fully explain” and that it appears to be among the two strongest candidates for a radio signal humanity received from extraterrestrial intelligence so far.NEWS, Scientists looking for aliens investigate radio beam ‘from nearby star’,www.theguardian.com/science/2020/dec/18/scientists-looking-for-aliens-investigate-radio-beam-from-nearby-star, December 31, 2020, The Guardian, December 18, 2020, WEB

• COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 75 million worldwide.WEB,www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/12/new-covax-agreements-renew-vaccine-hopes-developing-countries, New COVAX agreements renew vaccine hopes for developing countries, Schirring, Lisa, CIDRAP, December 18, 2020, December 19, 2020,
• COVID-19 pandemic: The United States approves Moderna’s vaccine for emergency use, the second brand available there.WEB, Lovelace, Berkeley Jr., FDA approves second Covid vaccine for emergency use as it clears Moderna’s for U.S. distribution,www.cnbc.com/2020/12/18/moderna-covid-vaccine-approved-fda-for-emergency-use.html, CNBC, January 16, 2021, December 18, 2020,
• December 20 – COVID-19 pandemic: A highly infectious new strain of SARS-CoV-2 spreading in Europe and Australia provokes international border closures.NEWS,www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-55382212, BBC News, Covid: WHO in ‘close contact’ with UK over new virus variant, December 21, 2020, December 22, 2020,
• December 21
  • COVID-19 pandemic: 36 cases are reported on the Base General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme in the Chilean Antarctic Territory, marking the first infections in Antarctica, the last continent to report infections.WEB,www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2020/12/21/reportan-brote-de-coronavirus-en-base-chilena-en-la-antartida/, Infobae, Reportan brote de coronavirus en base chilena en la Antartida, December 21, 2020, December 22, 2020,
  • A great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn occurs, with the two planets separated in the sky by 0.1 degrees. This is the closest conjunction between the two planets since 1623.WEB, See the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, 21 December 2020,www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/great-conjunction-jupiter-saturn, November 29, 2020, BBC Sky at Night Magazine,
• December 24
  • The United Kingdom and the European Union agree to a comprehensive free trade agreement prior to the end of the transition period.NEWS,www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-politics-55433447, UK and EU agree post-Brexit trade deal, BBC News, December 24, 2020, December 24, 2020,
  • COVID-19 pandemic: Sinovac’s vaccine reached a rate of 91.25% efficacy in trials in Turkey.WEB, Turkey says China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine 91.25% effective in late trials,www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/covid-19-sinovac-turkey-91-effective-late-trials-13841238, CNA, January 16, 2021, December 25, 2020, January 22, 2021,web.archive.org/web/20210122175300/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/covid-19-sinovac-turkey-91-effective-late-trials-13841238,
• December 27 – COVID-19 pandemic: The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 passes 80 million worldwide.WEB,edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/coronavirus-pandemic-vaccine-updates-12-26-20/h_b63ee60dff49ed562b974b304b8f885b, December 26 coronavirus news, CNN, December 26, 2020, December 27, 2020,
• December 29 – The 2020 Petrinja earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 strikes Croatia, killing seven and injuring more than 20.NEWS, December 29, 2020, At least seven killed as strong earthquake rattles Croatia, Al Jazeera English, Al Jazeera,www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/29/strong-6-3-magnitude-earthquake-hits-central-croatia, December 30, 2020,
• December 30 – COVID-19 pandemic: The United Kingdom approves AstraZeneca-Oxford’s vaccine, the second one available. The vaccine is easier to store as it only requires normal fridge temperatures, making distribution easier.WEB, Gallagher, James, Triggle, Nick, Covid-19: Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine approved for use in UK,www.bbc.com/news/health-55280671, BBC, December 30, 2020, December 30, 2020,
• December 31 – The transition period following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union on January 31, 2020, expires.NEWS,www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-50838994, Brexit: What is the transition period?, December 20, 2019, December 30, 2019,web.archive.org/web/20200131215049/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-50838994, January 31, 2020, live,

Births and deaths

Nobel Prizes

(File:Nobel medal.png|right|120px|Nobel medal)

• Chemistry – Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer DoudnaWEB, The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020,www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2020/summary/, October 7, 2020, The Nobel Prize,
• Economics – Paul Milgrom and Robert B. WilsonPRESS RELEASE, October 12, 2020, The Prize in Economic Sciences 2020,www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2020/09/press-economicsciences2020.pdf, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences,
• Literature – Louise GlückWEB, The Nobel Prize in Literature,www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/2020/summary/, October 8, 2020, The Nobel Prize,
• Peace – World Food ProgrammeWEB, The Nobel Peace Prize 2020,www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2020/summary/, October 9, 2020, NobelPrize.org,
• Physics – Roger Penrose, Reinhard Genzel and Andrea M. GhezWEB, The Nobel Prize in Physics 2020,www.nobelprize.org/prizes/physics/2020/summary/, October 6, 2020, The Nobel Prize,
• Physiology or Medicine – Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice{{citation |website=The Nobel Prize|title=The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2020|access-date=October 5, 2020|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2020/summary/}}

References

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External links

{{Commons category}}{{Events by month links}}{{Lists of years in topics}}{{2020s}}{{2020s in political history}}